Dale "Swede" D. Borgen

Dale “Swede” Daryl Borgen, 87, of Plymouth passed away on Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at his home with his loving family beside him.

Dale was born on April 11, 1934 in Fond du Lac, a son to the late Theodore and Rosella (Halbach) Borgen.  He graduated from Goodrich High School in Fond du Lac in 1952. Following high school he served in the Air Force from 1952 until 1955 during the Korean War. On December 19, 1969 he was united in marriage to Diane Pennings in Waukegan, Illinois.  Dale was a chef at the Sheboygan County Mental Health Center, the Hoffbrau Supper Club, and Millhome Supper Club.  Following his career as a chef he owned/operated Diane’s Interior Furnishings with his wife, Diane, from 1976 until his retirement in 1989.

Dale had a passion for cooking for others, always making enough to feed a small army.  He had a strong faith in God and enjoyed going to church; he was an avid builder of birdhouses; loved playing cards with family and friends (his favorite being Hand-and-Foot and King’s Corners); could tell jokes for hours on end making people laugh with his dry sense of humor; was an avid collector of license plates; and always thought his piece of dessert was too small.  To quote Swede, “Staggering is a sign of strength.  Only the weak get carried away!” and “You never did like me, did you?!?!”

Dale was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Elkhart Lake and the Elkhart Lake– Glenbeulah VFW Post #6973 of which he was proud of being an “All State Commander.”

Dale is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Diane; his seven children who he considered each a gift from heaven, Jeffrey (Traci) Borgen, Debbie (David) Fryda, David (Sandy) Borgen, Donna Ziegler, Michael (Deborah) Borgen, Brenda (Jaime) Kissinger and Barb (Scott) Sander; his grandchildren, Brian (Dani) Steiner, Jenny (Jimmy) Jaeger, Nick (Jess) Steiner, Steven (Krista) Borgen, Todd (Rachel) Borgen, Heather Giese, Luke Ziegler, Jake Ziegler, Sarah Borgen, Michelle Borgen, Jordan Kissinger, Brianna (Eric) Baesemann,  and Becca Diestler (boyfriend, Cody Schlenvogt); his great grandchildren; a brother, Tom (Mary) Borgen and numerous brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Theodore and Rosella Borgen; brother and sister-in-law, Ted (Erica) Borgen; sister and brother-in-law, Darylene (Ken) Bedker; and son-in-law, John Ziegler.

A funeral service for Dale will be held at Grace Lutheran Church in Elkhart Lake on Monday, December 6, 2021, at 5:30 p.m., with Pastor Peter Peitsch & Pastor Tom Fleischmann officiating. Family and friends may visit at Grace Lutheran Church, 210 Lincoln St., from 1:30 pm until time of service at 5:30 p.m.  Private Family Entombment will be in Greenlawn/Garden of Peace Mausoleum.

In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established in his name.

Dale’s family would like to extend their gratitude and appreciation to Comfort Keepers, the caretakers of Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice, and the staff at the Clement Zablocki VA Medical Center especially Dr. Susan Davids: for their smiles, care and compassion.

Expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.lakeshorefamilyfuneralhomes.com

Wittkopp Funeral and Cremation Service of Plymouth is serving the Borgen family.