Dale Belli

With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Thomas Dale Belli (Dale), 69. He passed away peacefully in his home in Lemont, IL surrounded by family, after a 10-year battle with kidney cancer.

Born in Philadelphia, Dale grew up in Lexington, Kentucky. He was very active in sports while attending Tates Creek High School, and played for the University of Kentucky football team. His mother’s love of horses led the family to own a small horse farm during which time Dale gained extensive knowledge of horses and their breeding lineage. The annual Kentucky Derby became a “national holiday” for the family that is a celebrated tradition to this day.

Dale worked in transportation logistics for 40 years, but his true pride and purpose came from the life he built with his beloved wife Carolyn (Carol) whom he married in 1988. Dale was a loving husband and father who cared deeply for their children Nick and Gina,and was always their biggest supporter.  

Dale enjoyed watching live music with Carol and shared that joy with Nick later in life, recently rocking out at an Alice Cooper and Judas Priest concert together. He had a contagious laugh and an eternally positive attitude. He was passionate about rock and roll, sports, Kentucky, horse racing, and history. When it came to any of these topics, Dale always had a fun fact or piece of history to add to the conversation.

He was preceded in death by his parents Armand Belli and Sylvia Jo (Davis) Belli, a half-brother Randolph Belli, and is survived by his wife Carolyn (Zukoski) Belli and children Nicholas and Gina Belli.

Rest easy, Dad. Your strength, courage, wit, and heart live on in all of us.

Visitation will be held at Markiewicz Funeral Home, P.C. 108 Illinois Street, Lemont, IL on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, from 6 - 8 p.m. A private interment will take place.