David Erwin Carpenter of Madison, WI, passed away on July 19, 2026 . He was born in Appleton, WI, on October 20, 1939, the son of Erwin and Othilia (Killian) Carpenter. He was preceded in death by his parents, his son Robert, his brother Ralph, sister-in-law Cheryl, and two wives, Linda (Simkins) Carpenter-Harris, and Mary (Davis) Griffin Carpenter.

David is survived by his children, Brad and Paige, granddaughters, Hannah, Laurel and Lindsay Carpenter, special daughter-in-law, Linda Carpenter, and brothers, Jerry (Anita) Carpenter and Tom (Barb) Carpenter. He is further survived by Joan Pedro and many more dear friends.

David obtained a Bachelors Degree in Economics from the UW Madison in 1962, and a Masters Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the UW Madison in 1974. He worked in community and county planning in Madison before moving to Milwaukee to work in planning with the hospital community. He later returned to Madison to work for St. Mary’s Hospital. His last career move was to become the Director of the Dodge County Planning and Development Department and moved to Columbus, WI. Following retirement, David pursued the life of an artist, working primarily in colored pencil, but also watercolor and stained glass.

David had a wide variety of interests. His curiosity led him to join many organizations, and his inability to say no resulted in his leading many of them for a time. Art-associated organizations included the Madison Art Guild, the North Side Artists Group and the Wisconsin Regional Art Association. He was also a member of Madison Skilaufers, the Warner Park Advisory Committee, the Olbrich Botanical Society and the Wisconsin Hardy Plant Society. David belonged to the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy, the Charles E. Brown Archaeological Society and the Wisconsin Archaeological Society. While living in Columbus, he was a member of the Planning Commission, the Swimming Pool Committee, the Main Street and Downtown Development Committees and the United Methodist Church. He belonged to the Wisconsin Society for Health Care Planning and Marketing, The American Planning Association, the Rock River Coalition, the Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation and the Flyway Area Labor-Management Council. David was the President of his college freshman class and a member of the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity.

David was a gentle soul with intrinsic kindness for all creatures great and small. He had a wonderful dry wit, a contagious laugh, and an uncanny ability to make friends everywhere he went. He would be touched by all of you who took time to read about him and would be just as curious to know about your lives, if he could. That’s the kind of man he was.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, July 23rd with visitation at 11:00 a.m. and service at Noon at the Cress Funeral Home, 3610 Speedway Road in Madison. Instead of any memorial, please make a contribution to the charity of your choice.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service

3610 Speedway Road Madison

(608) 238-3434