Dale Quentin Fitschen

Dale Q. Fitschen, 88, of East Lansing, Michigan, passed away peacefully on December 15, 2025, at University of Michigan Sparrow Hospital. A recent resident of Brookdale Senior Living Center in Oak Park, IL and lastly Burcham Hills, East Lansing, MI, Dale was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on October 13, 1937, to Jacob and Flora (Freihaut) Fitschen. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Elaine Laury (Pat Laury).

Dale lived a life defined by curiosity, creativity, and love. For 63 years, he shared an extraordinary marriage with his wife, Marilyn Fitschen—a partnership filled with music, art, literature, gardening, swimming and joyful adventures. Together, they raised three daughters: Romy Fitschen (Kevin Brown), Jean-Claire Fitschen (Mark Mattson), and Samantha Fitschen. Dale was a proud grandfather to Meredith Fitschen-Brown (Anthony Gilbert), Rhys Fitschen-Brown (Esther Beauchemin), Bernadine Mattson, and Finn Wilmes. He is also survived by his siblings Ken Fitschen and Eileen Reese, their spouses, and many nieces and nephews.

A Life of Learning and Service

Dale’s intellectual journey began at Washington University in St. Louis, where he first studied art before earning a B.A. in English Literature—a choice that reflected his lifelong love of language and ideas, as well as visual and musical arts. After moving to Hyde Park, Chicago, IL he pursued graduate studies at Roosevelt University and the University of Chicago, immersing himself in Chicago’s vibrant cultural life and meeting many treasured friends and intellectual pursuits.

In South Shore, Chicago, IL Dale and Marilyn were involved in cooperatives, including the South Shore Community Garden at Rainbow Beach, Sitter Swap, Food Club, Co-op Three (3) School and participated in community life at Circle Pines Center in Delton, MI.

Professionally, Dale dedicated himself to public service, specifically accessible transportation, concluding his career as a Grant and Project Administrator for the Illinois Department of Transportation. His work helped fund the first accessible bus for Chicago’s Regional Transportation Authority, a milestone in transportation equity.

Passions That Defined Him

Dale was an artist and his interests were eclectic. Dale loved botanical gardens, arboretums, and every spring, he planted a prolific flower and vegetable garden in his home in Oak Park, IL. He loved to dance and taught ballroom dancing, performed early music with the American Recorder Society and served on the board of the Oak Park Recorder Society, participated and helped organize the Whitewater Early Music Festival and spent many summers performing at the Bristol Renaissance Faire. He sang in choirs, including at the International Church Choir Festival in Bern, Switzerland.

He loved literature, classical as well modern, Saul Bellow, John Gardner and especially Tolkien. Dale wrote letters and stories, many reflecting his sense of humor and whimsy. He was talented at drawing, often sketching philosopher birds, and also carving gargoyles and creatures. He loved avant garde and surreal, art house films and introduced his children to art and dance through them. He attended plays, symphonies, and operas, and delighted his children with imaginative stories, including one published work, Rotten Snags Rotten Hair. His resilience was remarkable. In 2006, he became a liver transplant survivor thanks to a live donation from his daughter Samantha, which kept him going for almost another 20 years - an amazing gift.

Dale will be remembered as a gentle soul with a curious mind and a generous heart. He wandered through life with purpose—through books, film and music, gardens and cities, friendships and family—and in that wandering, he found joy and meaning. Dale’s journey was rich, and his legacy lives on in the love he shared and the beauty he created.

Celebration of Life

A celebration of Dale’s life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Burcham Hills Foundation – Benevolent Care Fund in Dale’s honor. Checks may be sent c/o Lesa Smith, Director, Burcham Hills Foundation, 2700 Burcham Drive, East Lansing, MI 48823.