Dale J. Ducommun

Dale Jesse Ducommun, 92, of Midland, went to be with The Lord on Wednesday, January 20th, 2021 at MidMichigan Hospital Center. Dale was born in Urbana, Illinois on September 15th, 1928 to Elizabeth Blanche (Rasmus) Ducommun and Jesse Clarence Ducommun, while Jesse was an instructor at the College of Engineering at The University of Illinois. The family moved to Whiting, Indiana in 1929, where his father worked for Standard Oil of Indiana. As a youth, he held jobs such as a movie theatre usher and a ticket collector on the train. He snuck out of the house to take flying lessons at one point. Dale graduated from George Rogers Clark High School in 1946, and went on to earn his B.A. degree at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, where he met his beautiful bride-to-be, Anna Janet Cain. They married on June 16th, 1951.

Dale went on to continue his education at The University of Iowa, eventually earning his M.D. degree. He interned at Munson Medical Center, Traverse City, Michigan. He then went into active duty for the U.S. Navy from 1959-61, stationed at Fort Detrick, MD and the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C. He was the attending physician in the ambulance on the capitol grounds during the inauguration of President John F. Kennedy. He was released from active duty in 1961 and remained in the Naval Reserve, eventually retiring as a Captain in The Medical Corps in 1988. During his tenure with the Navy, he was nominated for Rear Admiral twice.

From 1961-1967, he worked as Assistant Medical Director for Harrison Radiator Division, General Motors Corporation, in Lockport, New York. He moved to Midland in 1967, hired as a staff physician for Dow Chemical, and retired in 1989 as an occupational health associate.

His many accomplishments and honors include; Society of Medical Consultants to the Armed Forces; Consultant to the Surgeon General of the Navy; Board of Directors and Founding member of TriCities Navy League; Vice President and board member of the Visiting Nurses Association; Board of Trustees of the Civil Aviation Medical Association; Associate Fellow, Aerospace Medical Association; Fellow, American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine; Life member, American Academy of Dermatology

Despite his many accomplishments, Dale was a humble, caring soul and a friend to everyone. He was a lifelong member of The United Methodist Church.

He was predeceased by his wife of 67 years, Anna Janet Ducommun. He is survived by his brother, Donald Paul Ducommun, sister Diane (Dennis) Harrison, daughter, Karen (Tom)Morrell, daughter, Jean (Bob) Carle, son, Mark (Tina) Ducommun, granddaughters, Bethany and Kelsey Carle, and Kaylyn Ducommun, great-granddaughters, Jennica, Adelina, and Violetta Maxbauer.

Funeral and committal services will be held at 5:30 p.m. Saturday January 23, 2021 at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Anita Hahn and Rev. Dr. J.D. Landis officiating. Interment will be in Midland City Cemetery. Family will receive guests at the CHURCH on Saturday from 4:30 p.m. until the time of service. In lieu of flowers memorials may be offered to First United Methodist Church or DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. A link of the service will be available on his tribute page after the service at www.wilson-miller.com

First United Methodist Church
315 W. Larkin St., Midland MI 48640
Tel: 1-989-835-6797
Web: https://fumcmidweb.org/donate/