Willaim Dauch Obituary

William Dauch

Sep 17, 1935 - Jan 23, 2024

Wakeman

William A. Dauch, 88, of Wakeman, passed away Tuesday, January 23, 2024 in Naples, Florida.

He was born on September 17, 1935 to Albert and Helen (Holzhauer) Dauch.

He was a 1953 graduate of Wakeman High School. It is here where he met a very pretty girl, Mona Wolfe. They married right after high school and enjoyed 69 years of marriage. They would have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on June 12 of this year.

As a boy, his family moved around a bit. He was born in Kimball Ohio but also resided in Norwalk. He helped on the family dairy farm.

At age 10 he was a paperboy, delivering newspapers around the Northwest Street area of Norwalk. He also worked for Humphrey Farms, the Huron Pillsbury seed/grain elevator loading bags of seed. After high school he worked at a Foundry and knew he didn't want to do that job for very long.

He joined the Army in 1955. He did his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He was specialty trained in Morse Code school at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and received one of the highest scores which allowed him some choice in where he would be stationed. He ended up based in Sausalito, California as a telecommunication radio operator. After his time was served, he and his wife Mona and young son Bill Jr. returned to the Wakeman, OH area where they began building their life.

He purchased his first Mack truck in 1958 and began William Dauch Trucking. He was the owner and operator. Eventually his fleet would grow to five and it was based at their Wakeman home. In 1966 he decided to begin a concrete business. He received resistance from the banks and was refused a start-up loan. However, the owner of International Trucks, W.L. Meade financed him so that he could start his concrete business - with nothing more than a gentleman's handshake. Thus, Wm. Dauch Concrete Co began. It started with 2 cement mixers. He would batch the concrete, and drive one of the trucks, and one other employee would drive the other. He and Mona, together worked side by side. Today, the company currently has 38 cement mixers and is based in Norwalk and has three other concrete plants located in Bucyrus, Willard, and Elyria. Eventually, the semi truck business, William Dauch Trucking became known as Seven-D Trucking (named after his family, Bill and Mona, and their five children). It would grow to its present capacity of 17 semi trucks. The family had his B61 Mack restored for his 73rd Birthday.

Bill was a member of The Ohio Ready Mix Association, since 1967. He served on many boards: Western Reserve School Board for many years, Bank Boards, and the Wakeman Congregational Church boards and committees. He was very civic minded. He gave generously to many schools, his church, and numerous organizations.

He enjoyed nature and the outdoors, going for rides with his wife, Mona on their Kubota to roam their woods and watch for deer, and mowing their back woods.

He spent many years playing softball. He sponsored and played on a team for several years at McGuan Park in Norwalk. In later years he played in a league at Akron and also in a league in Florida, where he and Mona resided during the winter months. He played his final softball game in Florida, just days before he passed.

He was a simple man but a smart man. He prided himself on being a self made man. He took care of his family, his friends, his employees, and his customers. He was gifted with good business sense. His word was true and he expected the same from others. He didn't expect anyone to do a job that he wouldn't do. He prided his company with delivering the absolute best customer service.

He believed in being devoted to his wife, Mona and raising their five children, Bill, Len, Deana, Darnel, and DaLane. Family was everything to him. He cherished time spent with his 16 grandkids, and 27 great grandkids, and enjoyed watching their many events. He didn't require a lot of material things. He enjoyed time spent with his family. Even after working long days, he would come home and throw a baseball with his kids, or take part in the backyard pick-up game of baseball consisting of family cousins, and neighborhood friends. All were always welcome.

He enjoyed nothing more than a rowdy game of cards and competitiveness. His "Grampaisms", sayings, will live with each and every one of his kids and grandkids, and they will continue to fly in a good game of cards.

William is survived by his wife, Mona; son; Len (Elaine) Dauch; daughters, Deana (Dennis Justi) Sherman, Darnel (Tim) Patrick, DaLane (Pat) Campana; Daughter-in-law Kim (Norman) Dauch-Behr; brothers, Gale Dauch, Jack Dauch, David Dauch; sister, Nancy Smith and numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Bill Dauch Jr. (1997); brothers, Richard Dauch and George Knittel.

Friends may call on Thursday, February 1, 2024 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Toft Funeral Home, Wakeman Chapel, 16 Cooper Street, Wakeman. An additional hour of visitation will take place on Friday at 10:00 am at Wakeman Congregational Church, 14 Abbott St, Wakeman, OH until the time of the service at 11:00 with Rev. Janet Ross presiding. Burial will follow in Wakeman Cemetery, Wakeman, Ohio.

Those wishing to contribute to Bill's memory may do so to Wakeman Congregational Church or to Back to the Wild, Castalia Oh.

Toft Funeral Home, Wakeman Chapel, Wakeman, is handling arrangements. Condolences may be shared online at toftfuneralhome.com.