Dale Warren Mastellar

July 3, 1946 - May 5, 2017

GENEVA - Dale Warren Mastellar, 70, of West Lake Rd. died peacefully at home on Friday, May 5, 2017, with his family surrounding him after an extended illness. A Celebration of his Life will be ty 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 13, 2017 at the West Lake Road Fire House. Contributions in his memory, may be made to the West Lake Rd. Fire Department or to Ontario Yates Hospice. Dale was born on July 3, 1946 at Taylor Brown Hospital in Waterloo, NY, the son of the late Carl H. And Dorothy Clise Mastellar.  He grew up on the family farm on Kime Road in Waterloo, the second youngest of five. He attended Waterloo schools. He began racing motorcycles as a young teen while working at Swanson’s Cycle Shop and became an accomplished rider, winning numerous races all across the country and having the privilege to race at many tracks including Watkins Glen and Daytona Speedway. Dale married the love of his life on February 24, 1968, Barbara (Barbie) Buck at St, Francis de Sales Church in Geneva, NY. He started working at Karlsen’s Snowmobile Shop in 1969 where he not only repaired snowmobiles but raced them as well.  He excelled at the repairs, earning the title of “Head Tinkerer”. Dale was an accomplished equipment operator and could run anything with an engine. He worked for the Operating Engineers Union of Rochester, Paradise Construction Seneca Falls, and then became the service manager for Finger Lakes Tractor in Penn Yan where gained the respect of the area farmers. After many faithful years with Finger Lakes Tractor, Dale found employment with the Town of Geneva Highway Department where he was an equipment operator and general Mr.-Fix-It all.  He retired with over 20 years of service.  Dale was a life member of the West Lake Road Fire Association, where he held numerous positions through the years. He enjoyed work details including chicken barbeques for the firehouse, putting in countless hours of volunteer service. Throughout his life Dale was an avid sportsmen, enjoying all there was with hunting, fishing, and shooting.  In his early years he enjoyed duck hunting along the shores of Seneca Lake, hunting pheasant, quail, ducks, rabbits, squirrel, and deer.  Dale enjoyed shooting sports, and especially enjoyed shooting Annie-Oakley on Sundays at the Reed Farm.  Fishing and boating were also a passion for Dale while living all his life along the shores of Seneca Lake.  Dale loved his family and friends and enjoyed countless picnics at the family lake lot.  Spending time with family was something he cherished and loved.  Dale’s greatest passion aside from his family may have been his garage.  For the better part of 25 years, Dale had enjoyed working in his garage, fixing everything from cars to weedeaters, boat motors to 4-wheelers.  He had what he considered the honor to work on all manner of lawn equipment for people from all over.  He not only enjoyed the work, he also enjoyed the people. Dale was an unbelievable mechanic by all accounts.  He was in high demand for his service.  He once mentioned the only thing he wasn’t able to fix (that he really wanted to) was a wrist watch.  One of his most notable creations was a 7-foot tall wooden giraffe affectionately named Rudy.  Dale went on to make numerous smaller versions one of which stands guard at their homestead of 42 years.  Dale enjoyed watching UFC matches with anyone who would sit with him, he enjoyed watching his favorite Nascar driver Danica Patrick with his Barbie, and watching anything science related with his grandkids.  Dale would often speak fondly of many of the great friends he had the honor of knowing through the years and truly enjoyed the many, many people who would come visit him in his shop.  Dale loved to eat.  He loved raw clams, veal parmigiana, all kinds of wild game, and many things his loving wife would reluctantly prepare.  Dale was a fixture at local diners for breakfast, even at one point being featured in the Finger Lakes Times.  He enjoyed the people he met while dining and befriended a small group of them.  Dale and this group met religiously for breakfast most every day and when Dale could no longer make it out for breakfast due to his health, the group brought the breakfast to him.  This was something that Dale loved and so looked forward to. Something else amazing about Dale was his thirst for knowledge.  If he didn’t know how to fix something or how something worked (which was rare), he would read technical manuals, owner’s manuals, magazine articles, or anything that would assist him with his quest.  His knowledge base along so many disciplines was absolutely amazing.  Words to describe Dale would include: Honorable, Dependable, Stubborn, Loving and Brilliant. He claimed to never have been late for any appointment… ever. He is survived by his loving companion of over 52 years (married for 49) Barbara (Barbie) Buck Mastellar; sons Michael (Margaret) and Matthew (Kristen) Mastellar of Geneva; grandchildren: Courtney and Matthew “Jay” Mastellar; step-grandchildren: Joshua (Stacy) Johnson of Waterloo, Jerica (Joseph Shell) Balke of Geneva, Jarred (Cindy)  Balke of Seneca Falls; five step-great-grandchildren: Taylor Balke, Logan and Levi Johnson, Cara and Melody Balke; many cousins and numerous in-laws, nieces & nephews. He was loved and respected by all. He was predeceased by his Grandma, Grace Clise; mother and father, Dorothy C. and Carl H. Mastellar; his sister, Anna Boisvert; brother, Carl H. Mastellar Jr.; Sister Muriel Hine, and Sister Sharon Goheen.