Bancroft, Dale W. President of Bancroft Travel Consulting of Hartford, WI, has been in the travel industry for more than seventy years. Originally, in 1946, he and his new bride, Jane, opened Bancroft Travel Service at 777 E. Broadway in downtown Milwaukee, across from the Milwaukee Athletic Club. The business flourished in that space for the next 42 years. In 1988, the agency moved to Oconomowoc which had become Dale and Jane'shometown in 1969. After 52 years of marriage and business partnership, Jane died in 1997 of cancer. In 1998, Dale joined forces with 2nd wife Pat, another travel lover, and they continued the business in Oconomowoc until the fall of 2005. Always on the cutting edge of business practices, the Bancrofts downsized their agency and became 'home based' in their new hometown of Hartford, WI. In recent years, due to health problems, he was unable to continue traveling himself, but his clients have kept him busy planning incredible travel experiences right up to two days before he died on Wednesday, May 4, 2011. Dale kept up with technology as well, and leaves behind his 32" IMAC computer having dashed off his final email only 2 days before his death at age 91. He is survived by his partner, friend and loving wife, Pat; dear brother Harry (Peggy) and other extended family and friends. Dale had no biological children, but shared in the love of Pat's children, Chris (Debbie) Zastrow, Scott Zastrow, Sarah (Steven) Spottswood and Elizabeth Koronka as well as her grandchildren, Jason, Mycala, Zacery and Noah Zastrow. A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, May 14, 2011, at Wisconsin Memorial Park (18500 W. Capitol Drive, Brookfield). Visitation 1-3 PM with a walk down memory lane beginning at 3PM. Dale loved people, loved to socialize and loved to help create flawless travel memories for his clients. Memorials may be given to the ICTA (Institute of Certified Travel Agents) for scholarships in Dale's name or CRUSA (Cairn Terrier Rescue USA). A special thank you to Dr. John Fish, Dr. Kooroush Saeian and Dr. Adel Korkor for their diligent care; the wonderful staff at Purity Dialysis, along with the caring staff of Vitas Hospice.
Published in Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on May 8, 2011