August 5, 1923 ~ March 25, 2013

D. Dale Hartzell, 89, of Butler, PA, formerly of Penn Township, went to be with his Lord on March 25, 2013 at 10:55 a.m. at the VNA Inpatient Hospice. Born August 5, 1923, he was considered one of Butler County's outstanding dairy farmers. He graduated from Penn Township High School in 1940 and remained on the family's century-old dairy farm, raising Holstein cattle that were sold to farms ranging from the Northeast to the Midwest. In 1972, he joined with Harry Hays and formed Hays & Hartzell Realty, where he worked as a real estate broker until his retirement. He was a member of the original Planning and Zoning Board in Penn Township and eventually worked with township authorities to turn his family's farm into Harcrest Park. He loved nature because he "could see the hand of God in all of creation."He was a faithful member of Community Alliance Church, where he served as Elder, Trustee and Sunday School teacher. He also taught home Bible studies and mentored young adults. He was known throughout the Butler community as a man of integrity and honesty. His love for the Lord was evident in his every action. Dale was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He loved the outdoors and was an avid hunter and a great sports fan. He was married for 65 years to Bette A. (Shumway) Hartzell, and he is survived by her and their four children, Dr. David D. Hartzell, Jr. and his wife Gayle of Saxonburg, James F. Hartzell and his wife Agnieska of Lodz, Poland, Ellen J. Knox and her husband Chuck of Butler and Sally Giamporcaro and her husband Marc of Wylie, Texas. He has seven grandchildren, Chal Knox, Suzannah Knox, and Lindsay (Knox) Hall, Maya Hartzell and Caya Hartzell and Mario Giamporcaro and Maria Giamporcaro and eight great-grandchildren, Charlie, Julianne and Katelyn Knox, D. Dale, Abigail, Rebekah, Andrew (Clem) and Elizabeth Hall. He is preceded in death by his parents, David L. Hartzell and Carrie Maharg Hartzell as well as a brother and four sisters. Love and honored by both family and friends, Dale will be dearly missed. Viewing will be on Wednesday, March 27, 2013 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Thompson - Miller Funeral Home, Inc., 124 East North Street, Butler, PA. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, March 28, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at the Thompson - Miller Funeral Home, Inc., 124 East North Street, Butler, PA 16001 with Rev. Chal M. Knox III, his grandson, officiating. Burial will take place in the Brownsdale Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Harcrest Park, C/O Penn Township, 157 E Airport Road, Butler, PA 16002.