David M. Spahn

David M. “Dave” Spahn

DeForest - David M. “Dave” Spahn, 81, passed away with family by his side on April 13, 2021. Born at home on December 22, 1939, to Lawrence and Catherine (Ripp) Spahn, he was raised on the family farm in DeForest, WI. He attended Ella Wheeler Wilcox grade school and graduated from DeForest Area High School in 1958.

Not long after graduation, he started working at the Oscar Mayer meat packing plant in Madison and remained there until his retirement 40 years later. In 1963, Dave married Lois (Meier) Spahn, and they settled first near the family farm and later moved to a small farm in the Village of Windsor. Together, they shared 57 years of married life, raised four children, and welcomed five grandchildren, who, in turn, enchanted their Grandpa’s heart.

Dave served his country in the United States Reserves, 32nd Division, during the Berlin Crisis. He was a lifelong member of St. Olaf Catholic Parish in DeForest, WI, serving on the parish council during the building of the church in 1974 and as an usher for many years. Dave also frequently donated blood.

Outgoing and fun-loving, Dave was always ready to enjoy a good story, a good laugh, and a good Pabst Blue Ribbon beer. He loved to watch football of any kind, but particularly the Packers and Badgers. He was also a loyal Milwaukee Brewers fan. Dave loved fishing, coffee, scratch-off lottery tickets, cards, and old movies. And until his knees had something to say about it, he also enjoyed playing softball, bowling, and snowmobiling. Not long after Dave retired, he joined Prairie Athletic Club for the water aerobics classes, which helped him manage symptoms related to his Parkinson’s disease and offered him a whole new world of socializing.

Dave had beautiful blue eyes, a way of crooking his eyebrows that said something without saying words, and a loud laugh that invited others to join him. He accepted and bore with little complaint the increasing symptoms of his Parkinson’s disease and other bodily ailments that took from him many of the things he loved. His family always sought ways to entertain him and cherished the moments when his blue eyes sparkled, his eyebrows crooked, and his laugh, though pale by comparison, won out over his difficult physical condition. May he now rest in peace.

Dave is survived by his wife, Lois; four children: Nancy (Robert) Arntz, Judy (John) Van Altena, Allan (Sue) Spahn, and Denise Spahn; five grandchildren: Veronica Arntz (Nathaniel Nygaard), Alyssa Van Altena, Carly Van Altena, Deagan Spahn, and Shea Spahn; brother: Lornie (Marilyn) Spahn; sisters: Jan Uebersetzig, Bonnie (Paul) Schmidt, and Mary (Ed) Armbricht; brothers-in-law: Kenneth Meier, James (Bev) Meier, and Roman (Sandra) Meier; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; parents-in-law: Hugo and Helen Meier; sisters-in-law: Patricia Spahn and Marian Meier; brothers-in-law: William Meier and David Meier; and nephew: Ron Spahn.

The Spahn family wishes to thank the staff at BrightStar Senior Living in Waunakee for their dedicated care to Dave these past two plus years and the doctors and nurses at UW Hospital who assisted him in his final days.

The family also wishes to thank Father Jared and Father Kumud for their visits and prayers, as well as the Apostolate for Persons with Disabilities for their weekly televised Mass. We are also grateful to Dave’s family members, friends, neighbors, doctors, nurses, and caregivers who assisted him and his family through the many years of his declining health. We thank all of you (you know who you are!) for your compassion and care.

A physically distanced visitation will be held at WINN CRESS FUNERAL HOME on Sunday, April 18, 2021, from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m. A private Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 19, 2021, at St. Olaf Catholic Church with Father Jared Holzhuter presiding. A private burial will follow the funeral Mass. The Mass will be live-streamed: https://saintolafchurch.org/live-stream-mass.

Please share your memories at www.cressfuneralservice.com

WINN CRESS FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICE

5785 County Road Q

Waunakee, WI 53597

(608) 849-4513