Obituary: David W. “Dave” Meisch
David W. “Dave” Meisch, age 75, of LaValle, WI formerly of Elburn, IL, passed away peacefully after a short hospital stay on Monday, December 26, 2022.
Dave was the first born of five children to loving parents Robert and Elizabeth (Pintye) Meisch on November 17, 1947. The family lived on a farm on the East side of Batavia, Illinois, where Dave attended Batavia schools and went on to graduate from Kaneland High School in 1965. Farm life was the foundation to the life he led; to rise early, work hard, clean up after yourself, organization in all you do, but mostly to live life to its fullest.
Dave’s sister introduced him to his future bride, Donna Erickson another KHS grad and a match was struck only to be interrupted by Uncle Sam in 1967. He proudly served in the Army as a Transportation specialist IV and was honorably discharged in 1969. Much later in life he boasted with pride his Grandson Tre’ followed his path to the Army.
Daily/weekly letters were exchanged with Donna, as Dave traveled thru Fort Leonard Wood, overseas to Thailand and Fort Bliss. Months after his discharge they were married on October 4, 1969, and they went on to raise three children, build three houses and celebrate 53 years of marriage. They lived in Maple Park for a time, then built homes in Kaneville & Elburn, IL. They renovated a small cabin in Fort Atkinson, WI and the family enjoyed many a weekend up North for a decade. The love of WI lake life hooked them and in 2005 they built their happily ever after home on Dutch Hollow Lake. Over the years in DH they added many to the list of treasured friends.
Dave held high regard for people who worked hard and set a fine example at the jobs he held. He was employed by Stahl Construction, Feltes Sand & Gravel after his return from the Army. In 1975 United Parcel Service was lucky to employ him to drive the Brown Truck for 40 years where he was known by his peers as ‘The Legend’. Upon his retirement in 2015 they hoisted his brown shirt to the rafters displaying MEISCH, celebrating his record of zero accidents and only one missed day of work.
Dave packed a lot of fun into his 75 years. Dave and Donna enjoyed Nascar races, countless snowmobile adventures with friends & family including an epic trip to Yellowstone during a 58” snowfall. Snowmobiling gave way to UTV’s to enjoy the beauty of Wisconsin in all seasons. They boated the IL River, Lake Koshkonong & Dutch Hollow Lake. Dave enjoyed many fishing trips with his friends to Canada & Arkansas. It wasn’t always the fishing he loved, but the comradery with his buddies. He was meticulous in the care of his lawn & visitors would remark first on the outside manicured yard and flowers, until they saw his pristine garage where you literally could eat off the floor.
Dave found a new mission with the American Legion Post 242, LaValle and was an active member for the past seven years, most recently serving as the Service Officer. He was ready to take on whatever task was needed, manning the grill, shopping for supplies, swinging a hammer for renovation or pushing the lawn mower & planting flowers. A big highlight of his week was Thursday morning coffee with guys at the LaValle American Legion. With no coffee shop in town, Dave organized a coffee clutch to solve the world’s problems weekly.
He is survived by his best friend & wife: Donna (Erickson) Meisch; his three children: Amy (Allen) Barr, Sara and Jason; his two grandchildren: Tre’ (Nellie) Fritz, Tyler Fritz; a great grandson to arrive in January; his brothers: Dennis (Jeri), Robert and his sister, Cindy Wickness, Sharon (Houng) Suh; a long line of nieces and nephews, brother-in-laws: Dennis (Claire), Erickson, Joel (Madonna) Erickson; sister-in-laws: Diana Erickson, Bonnie (Tom) Proctor, Jill (Jeff) Roberts, and a community of friends in IL & WI. He is preceded in death by his parents: Robert and Elizabeth Meisch, brother-in-laws Larry Erickson and Dick Wickness.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a future date. Memorial donation or cards can be mailed to “David Meisch Memorial” in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119; or American Legion Post 242, LaValle, WI 53941. Tributes may also be forwarded to the Conley Funeral Home Facebook Page or at www.conleycare.com The Picha Funeral Home in Wonewoc assisted, for online information go to www.pichafuneralhomes.com
