Dale F. Willcox, 85, of Rhinelander, died on Sept. 13, 2012. He was born on July 6, 1927, in Elmhurst, Ill., a western suburb of Chicago.

Survivors include his wife Gale; his son, Clark Dale Willcox of Poulsbo, Wash. and Captain Cook, Hawaii; his daughter, Patricia Lynn Fredres of Aurora, Ill.; and grandchildren.

Dale’s career was spent primarly as Senior Vice President and Chief Engineer of an electrical manufacturing company in Batavia, Ill., where he developed many automatic control switches whose concepts are still in use today. During his career he was granted in excess of 50 U.S. and Canadian patents. Dale held commercial and instrument pilot’s licenses and enjoyed flying, boating, new cars, traveling, and keeping everything in the house and garage in tiptop running order.

A service of reflection and rememberence will be held at the Carlson Funeral Home on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012 at noon. A time to visit with Dale’s family will be held from 10 a.m. until just prior to the services, on Tuesday Sept. 18, at the Carlson Funeral Home.

(Carlson Funeral Home)