Beyond the restaurants themselves, Dale's commitment to the community ran deep. A devoted man of faith, Dale served as a Church Elder and is a proud member of Christ Lutheran Church, the Men's Bible Group, and was a past member of the Walther League, a youth church organization. He was also ordained by Life Church Ministries and served as Past President of the local Thrivent organization.

Dale was a member of Rotary and Rotary International, serving as Past President of the local Rotary chapter. He was one of the proud founders of the Rotary Morning Club, whose early meetings were held right here at the Belvedere Supper Club. He also received the prestigious Rotary Service Above Self Award, one of Rotary's highest honors, recognizing his outstanding commitment to serving others. He was also an active member of the Elks for 49 years, Eagles, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the Tavern League.

Dale served as Past President of the Wisconsin Restaurant Association at the state level, and was Past President many times of the local chapter of the Wisconsin River Valley. He was also Past President of the local Apartment Association. He was honored as Restaurateur of the Year in 2001 — a prestigious award given to the best restaurant in the state of Wisconsin, a recognition that speaks to the outstanding quality and excellence the Belvedere Supper Club has brought to its guests year after year. In loving memory of Kristin Leffel, whose passion and love for the hospitality industry lives on, the Kristin Leffel Wisconsin River Valley Chapter Annual $10,000 Scholarship was established in her honor, helping young entrepreneurs pursue their education and fulfill their dreams in the hospitality field.

His extraordinary dedication to the Rotary's mission of service and philanthropy earned him the distinguished Paul Harris Fellow award about ten times — a rare and remarkable achievement that speaks volumes about the man behind the restaurants. Dale's wife Pat, the beloved matriarch of the Leffel family, is also a proud Paul Harris Fellow recipient, a fitting honor for a woman who has been the heart and backbone of this family and its legacy. Through these honors, Dale's entire family are proud Paul Harris recipients, including his three children, Christopher, Kristin, and Matthew; two daughters-in-law, Susan and Molly; and two grandchildren, Charlie and Lucy — a testament to the values of service, generosity, and philanthropy that have been instilled throughout the Leffel family. Pat stands as the matriarch of the Leffel family, and she is not alone in that honored role. From Lillian Hoefner Leffel Stewart in the logging camps of Hurley to the generations of women who followed, the ladies of this family have always worked tirelessly and with extraordinary strength right alongside their husbands — building businesses, raising families, serving communities, and holding everything together with grace, love, and unwavering dedication. Their contributions, though often unseen, are woven into every chapter of this legacy. In a further testament to his generous spirit, Dale also personally presented a Paul Harris Fellow award to a longtime Marshfield physician upon his retirement, honoring the doctor's decades of dedication and service to the Marshfield medical community.

Dale was the founder and a committee member of the first Crystal Apple Award, which was also held at the Belvedere Supper Club. He sat on the advisory board for Midstate Technical College for food and hospitality, served on the advisory committee for the Meals on Wheels program, and was involved in many other side adventures and local community endeavors throughout his life. We were honored to receive a special limited print, accompanied by a letter from Ben Lawton and his team, recognizing our early contributions to what is now the Lawton Research Center. Only a limited number of these prints were given out. Ben and Ruth Lawton also graced our dining room tables with their presence, a memory we hold dear. Dale was also honored to hold the presidential seal and host President George W. Bush in Milwaukee, alongside his sons and exchange students, while serving as acting chair of the Wisconsin Restaurant Association. Dale, his sons, and exchange students were further honored to shake President George W. Bush's hand — a truly memorable and historic moment for the entire family. Dale was also one of the early fundraisers for the local trail groomers, helping raise money to purchase a trail groomer for the club — yet another example of his deep commitment to supporting his local community. For many years, Dale and Pat proudly provided soup suppers for Lenten services at Christ Lutheran Church, a tradition that nourished both body and spirit for the congregation. Through the Walther League, the group canvassed and raised enough money — and also created a Chapel in the Woods as a tourist attraction to help raise additional funds — to move St. John's Lutheran Church from Lily, Wisconsin to Pickerel, Wisconsin. That remarkable achievement of faith and community inspired Dale and Pat to create their own Chapel in the Woods at the Belvedere Supper Club, as a lasting reminder to be thankful for how God works in mysterious and wonderful ways through us.