Obituary: David A. Bates
Dave Bates, age 67, lost his second battle with cancer on January 9, 2024 while in the embrace of family. First diagnosed in late 2019, he successfully beat cancer enduring the ravages of treatment while the world experienced the COVID pandemic. The experience gave him a fresh perspective on life and he relished every day pursuing his hobbies and connecting with family and friends.
David Alan Bates was the first of twin boys born to Walter (Joe) and Elna Bates on October 24, 1956. He grew up in Reedsburg playing sports and exploring nature with a throng of neighborhood kids who mowed their own baseball field in a vacant lot, shoveled the South Park pond for a skating rink and explored the Baraboo river bottom.
Dave attended Reedsburg public schools from kindergarten to high school, graduating in 1974. He excelled in track and cross country as well as playing intramural sports. After graduation Dave went on to earn a BS in Recreation and Parks Administration from UW-LaCrosse in December 1978.
After several years of working for the Parks Department in Delavan WI, Dave moved back to Sauk County, bought an old house in North Freedom and worked a variety of production/manufacturing jobs, first at Flambeau Plastics in Baraboo, then at Fiskars in Sauk City and eventually at Primex in Reedsburg where he retired in 2018.
Shortly after retirement, and after beating laryngeal cancer, Dave immersed himself in yard care, exterior house painting of his 100 year old house, and appreciation of nature through fishing, hunting and just wandering the woods and fields of Sauk County. He was most content in the outdoors. He could be found, fishing rod in hand, along the banks of Dell Creek, Seely Creek or the Baraboo River in search of smallmouth bass, trout or even rough fish.
He canoed and camped on the Wisconsin River with friends to whom he was a trusted and loyal companion. Devil’s Lake offered trout and panfish for his table and that of his friends and family. An avid hunter, Dave shot deer and turkeys each year, enjoying the experience for itself and sharing his harvest. He shot his last deer, a 9-point buck, less than two months prior to his death. He had a keen eye for collecting Native American stone artifacts, and donated an extensive arrowhead/stone tool collection to the Sauk County Historical Society in Baraboo.
Dave was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Elna Bates. He is survived by his twin brother Don (Shari) Bates of Dodgeville and older siblings Kathrine Hamblett of Reedsburg and Bob (Judy) Bates of Madison. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews, the “Hillsboro bunch” and the “Madison Bates bunch” of cousins. The family would also like to recognize his close friends Joe Pelton and Mark (Mary) Ahlstrom for their support.
A celebration of life for Dave will be held in the spring with friends and family.
