Dale Allen Colosky

Dale Allen Colosky - October 31, 1943 - December 26, 2014

Dale Colosky, 71, of Gull Lake, passed away unexpectedly on Friday evening, December 26, 2014. He was born on October 31, 1943 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to the late Anthony and Ruth Colosky (Brunke). Dale grew up in and around Chicago, Illinois, and attended Proviso West High School where he was active on the swimming and football teams.

Dale attended Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He played football and swam for WMU, and started a band, "Dirty Dale and the Dynamics", where he sang and played guitar. He was also very active in the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. But the most important event in college for Dale was meeting the "Love of His Life", Karen Louise Santek. It didn't take long for Dale to know it was forever, and she was pinned, engaged and then married on April 16th, 1966 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Dale Earned a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Western Michigan University and an M.B.A. from Loyola University.

In his professional career he held executive management positions with General Motors, Grayhill and Kal-Equipment Co. and also managed a Regional Manufacturing Consulting practice for Ernst & Young. It wasn't long before Dale discovered his entrepreneurial spirit which would guide him the rest of his career. In 1980 he founded Computer Strategies, a manufacturing software development and consulting firm which was recognized for its achievements in 1985, by being selected to the Inc. 500 as one of America's fastest growing privately held companies. Dale also co-founded Configuration Solutions in 1992 which he operated until its sale in 2008. Dale was also an active board member at Speedgrip Chuck, Inc., Integrated Parking Solutions, and participated in leadership, and advisory roles for many small businesses throughout Michigan and the Midwest. He retired in 2008 but continued to stay active as an advisor in the businesses of family and friends.

In 1974 Dale moved his young family to Richland, Michigan selecting a small semi-heated cottage on the shores of Gull Lake where he would put down roots and spend the next 40 years of his life. Dale was an only child and kept a very large and close network or friends who were very near and dear to him and considered an extension of his family. Early on and until his passing he was always available to spend time with grandchildren, children, wife and friends and found great joy fishing, golfing, and maintaining an aggressive social calendar while planning the next vacation for his family and friends. Dale was always there for anyone who needed him and had an enormous heart. He loved music and lived life like one big party, and he took everyone he knew along with him on an amazing ride.

Dale is survived by his loving wife Karen, and his two sons, Ryan (Nicole) Colosky of Portage, Michigan and Jason (Allison) Colosky of Galesburg, Michigan and five Grandchildren: Carter, Rowan, Griffin, Amelia and Kate. Dale was preceded in death by his parents.

A memorial and celebration of Dale's life will be held for Family and close friends at the Gull Lake Country Club on January 10th, 2015 from 2- 5 pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations to the American Cancer Society or Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan. Arrangements were made by the Farley-Estes & Dowdle Richland Chapel. Personal messages for the family and/or favorite memories of Dale may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.