of Allegan, died peacefully on Saturday, June 18, 2011, at Ely Manor Nursing Home. Jack was born December 26, 1924 in Allegan, the son of Wilfred and Ellen (Berry) Dendel. He graduated from Allegan High School in 1942, and attended MSU for one year before returning home to help on the family farm. Jack grew up on the family farm in Monterey Twp., and spent most of his 86 years as a dairy farmer and fruit grower until his retirement. Farming was his pride and joy, especially his Guernsey cattle. Jack's purebred herd of Guernsey cows ranked among the top five herds in the state of Michigan. In addition to the dairy herd the Dendel farm was a well known fruit farm. Despite the demands of the farming operation, Jack found time to serve his fellow dairymen as a leader in many dairy related organizations. In an effort to promote dairying in Allegan County, he helped develop and served for 10 years on the Allegan County Dairy Council. He served as the Director of Allegan County DHIA local and was President of the Allegan County Michigan Animal Breeders Cooperative, and was a member of the Farm Bureau and served on the FHA Board. For over 15 years he served on the Board of Directors of Kalamazoo Milk Producers Assoc., and became Vice President. He was on the Board of the Michigan Guernsey Breeders Assoc., was Vice President and President of the American Dairy Assoc. of Michigan. He was a member of the State Dairy Council and the MSU Dairy Dept. Advisory Council. He served as chairman of the Guernsey Comm. of Select Sires, and was active in the breeding industry both locally and nationally. Jack displayed his leadership skills on many national boards, served as director at large and 1st Vice President to the American Guernsey Cattle Club, and sat on the executive comm. of the National Assoc. Of Animal Breeders, and was Vice President and President of the National Purebred Dairy Cattle Assoc., Board member of the United Dairy Industry Assoc., and asked to serve as treasurer of the Dairy Research Inc. (DRINC) Board. As board President from 1975 to1984, Jack provided significant leadership to Select Sires, Inc., one of the top AI companies in the world. Some of Jack's greatest honors were being named Dairyman of the Year in 1970, received the Distinguished Service to Agriculture award in 1973, 1987 he received the Master Breeder Award, from the American Guernsey Cattle Club, and his most recent award was received April 22, 2010, when he was honored by MSU and Northstar Cooperative with his name being added to the Michigan Dairy Memorial and Scholarship Foundation. He retired from serving on dairy boards in 1987, and retired from farming in the late 1990's. Surviving are his loving wife of 28 years, Rose (Kaufman) who cherished his love and devotion, his five children; Tonya and Jim Battjes of Allegan, Deborah and Michael Buck of Otsego, Catherine and Jim Morgan, Jack and Patricia Dendel, and Joseph and Sandy Dendel all of Allegan, 13 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, brother, Gerald "Jo" Dendel of CA, 6 step children; David and Christine Blake of Royal Oak, Daniel and Nancy Blake of Huntington Woods, Debra Blake of Washington D.C., Jeffrey Blake of ME, Joanne and Richard Williams of OH, and Benjamin and Helene Blake of CA, 18 step grandchildren. Jack was a loving man and a caring father who left his family with many happy memories and will be dearly missed. Jack loved to play cards, watch sports, bowl, and enjoyed root beer and ice cream right up until the end. Jack's family would like to express their sincerest thanks to the staff at Ely Manor, who so kindly cared for his needs. Friends may meet with the family on Thursday, June 23, from 12 noon till service time at 2pm at the Gorden Funeral Residence, Allegan Chapel. Pastor Barry Lucas will officiate. Private interment will be at Poplar Hill Cemetery, Monterey Twp. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the First Congregational Church Kitchen or the Michigan Dairy Memorial and Scholarship Foundation, Michigan State University, 1250 Anthony Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824, please include "A10901" on the memo line of your check.