Dail Wallen Patterson, Jr

Dr. Dail Wallen Patterson, Jr. DVM passed away suddenly at his home on Thursday, October 21, 2021, at the age of 84. He was preceded in death by his wife, Doris, brother Dennis, and both parents.

Dail, or “Doc” as he was frequently referred to as, was a veterinarian in our community for over 50 years. He absolutely loved his “job” (job in quotes because as he would frequently say “can you really call what you enjoy doing all day every day a ‘job’??”)

Born September 7, 1937, in Muskegon, MI to Dail W. and Beatrice (Sachteleben) Patterson, Sr. Dail showed artistic and creative abilities at an early age. At age 5, he won first prize for a birdhouse that he built, by himself! Over the years, he honed his creativity and became an accomplished woodworker and was known throughout our family as an amazing caricature doodler and by friends as an expert coffee creamer stacker. His God given artistic and intuitive talents, as well as his deeply caring nature is what led him to pursue his career in veterinary medicine.

Dail took on a lot of odd jobs while in high school and college to pay for expenses and tuition; one of those jobs entailed driving a carload of frozen pizzas from Grand Haven to Detroit and back. As it would happen, his employer was a very close friend the Buikema family and, in 1956, he met the love of his Doris Buikema on a blind date arranged by his boss; they married on June 20, 1958 and enjoyed 47 years of marriage until her death in 2005.

In the fall of 1958, Dail transferred from Muskegon Community College to Michigan State University. While at MSU, he received a bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Science and then was accepted into MSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine and graduated in June of 1963 with his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. Shortly after graduation, Dail purchased a veterinary practice from Dr. Greene on the corner of Cedar and Kerns and changed the name to Patterson Veterinary Hospital. In 1965, when the county planned to widen cedar street and put in the US-127 expressway, Dail built the new clinic at its present location on Kerns Road and remained the owner until March 2015. During his lengthy career, Dail enjoyed caring for many different types of animals, from snakes to skunks and monkeys to buffalo. He made it his mission for every person to afford care for their pets, frequently forgoing payment if someone was unable. He had a huge soft spot for “little old ladies” and a talent for helping wayward youth, frequently listening to their troubles, and counseling them on his front porch while smoking his Pall Mall cigarettes.

Dail was also well known by family, friends, and employees as a mischievous prankster. Not too many escaped his deadly aim with a rubber band or later, a marshmallow when he received a marshmallow shooter for Christmas one year. When cell phones came out, he became a prank caller to his clinic thinking that no one would realize it was him. His calls included wanting to know how they could pregnancy test his lizard or if they would perform a cesarean section on his pet elephant.

Leaving behind to cherish his memory are daughter, Janice (Eric) Samson, Michael (Laura) Patterson. Grandchildren Brenna and Heather Pitlanish, and Timothy and Bella Patterson. Sister, Sharron Hargis and many adored nieces and nephews and long-time close family friend, Jan Dietrich. Also, “adopted daughters” Jamie Willard-Smith, Jo Gifford, and Rebecca Green and many “adopted” granddaughters and their children. Special great niece-in-law Kelly Reno as well as beloved former employees, including, Dr. Cheryl DeSilva DVM, and many, many friends, and animals.

Special thanks to Jim and Angie Leonard for the long-term loan of their wonderful standard poodle, Mia who was much loved by Dail and never left his side and for the many meals that they would hand deliver to Dail’s house, and personal haircuts at his home as well.

Also, special thanks to Heartland Palliative Care and Dobie Road Rehabilitation Center as well as talented cardiologist Eugene Choo, MD, and Fr. Kusi, head vicar, at St. James Catholic Church.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating as Dail gave generously to Ele’s Place, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, and the Dr. David Ellis Fund at MSU.

Services are as follows:
Visitation: Wednesday, October 27th from 4-7 pm with a Rosary immediately following at St. James Catholic Church, Mason.

Funeral Mass: Thursday, October 28th at 1:00 pm at St. James Catholic Church, Mason.

Interment: immediately following Mass at Leek Cemetery, Alaiedon Twp.

Arrangements entrusted to Vickers Leslie Funeral Home, 109 N. Church Street/P.O. Box 503, Leslie, MI 49251. 517-878-6600.

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