Obituary of Dale Michael Lewison

Dale Michael Lewison, 76, of Munroe Falls, Ohio, passed away on December 12, 2018, surrounded by his family.

Dale was born to parents Selmer LeRoy and Helen Hanson Lewison, on April 17, 1942 in Viroqua, Wisconsin.   He was raised a farm kid in a rural Wisconsin community composed of hard-working folks of Norwegian heritage.  Dale, a multi-sport athlete lettering in track & field and football, graduated from Viroqua High School in 1960.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1961.  The highlight of his three-year enlistment was being called up to active duty as tensions mounted during the Cuban Missile Crisis.  Dale was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army as a member of the Armor branch in July 1964.

Dale graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin—Whitewater.  After teaching middle school for one year in Janesville, Wisconsin, he was admitted to a graduate program in earth science and geography at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma.   Upon completion of his master’s degree in 1965, Dale returned to University of Wisconsin—Whitewater to teach in the geography department from 1965 - 1968.  Three years later, Dale retuned to University of Oklahoma to pursue a doctorate in economic geography and marketing logistics.  Upon earning his PhD in 1974, Dale launched a career in academic teaching that would take him to the University of South Carolina (1975-1978) and the University of Arkansas—Little Rock (1978-1981).  He would ultimately land at his long-time academic home—the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio.  Dale joined the growing College of Business Administration where he would serve as Head of the Marketing Department spanning a remarkable tenure from 1981 to 2008.  While serving as the Chairperson of the Marketing Department, he co-founded the Fisher Institute for Professional Selling and the Global Business Institute.  He also served as the founder and director of the Taylor Institute for Direct Marketing and the Suarez Applied Marketing Research Laboratory.  Dale authored several editions of a nationally best-selling Principles of Retailing textbook.  He co-authored many other retailing and marketing textbooks over the years. 

Dale was dedicated to his faith and was working on a new genre of book prior to his passing that dealt with Christian theology.  He loved his family and especially cherished spending time with his grandchildren.  Dale enjoyed reading, hiking, golf, and serving his church and community.  He was particularly fond of travel and loved his time trekking through rural England. 

Dale married Jacqueline, the love of his life, in 1983, who survives him.  Dale is also survived by his siblings, Gary Lewison and wife Barbara of Yorkville, Illinois; Regina Lee Lewison of Aurora, Illinois; and Rebecca S. Lewison and husband Dr. Douglas R. Palmer of Barneveld, Wisconsin.  He is also survived by his children, Kristopher M. “Mac” Lewison and wife Kendra of Manhattan, Kansas; Tyler Lewison and wife Katrina also of Manhattan, Kansas; Ana Lewison Baranyk and husband Matt of Akron, Ohio; Kimberly Barta and spouse Brett of Hudson, Ohio; Joseph Kovak and spouse Paula of Tiffin, Ohio; and Kristin Lorson and husband John of Orville, Ohio.  Dale was a proud “Papa” to ten grandchildren, Lindsay and Jack; Jason and Joseph; Charlotte, Ben and Sylvia; Lane and Owen; and Marlena, Elsa and Ida.  Plus, two great-grandchildren, Addilyn and Carter.   Dale was predeceased by his parents, Selmer and Helen Lewison and his sister, Linda Irene Lewison.

A memorial church service will be held in his honor on Sunday, December 16, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. at Redeemer Presbyterian Church at 190 W. Streetsboro Street in Hudson, Ohio.  A memorial reception will be held in the Church hall directly following the service.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in Dale’s honor be made to Redeemer Presbyterian Church.