Claude “Dave” M. Davis, age 89 years, of rural Hillsboro, entered God’s beautiful Kingdom on March 23, 2015, surrounded by loved ones at home.
Dave was born on Dec. 25, 1925, to Isaac and Maggie (Dunham) Davis. He always loved to brag about the fact that he
and Jesus shared the same birthday.
Dave grew to adulthood in Alto Pass, Illinois. As a very young man, he worked as a mechanic and a truck driver. He joined the U.S. Army at the age of 19, receiving an honorable discharge as a disabled veteran in 1946. After the service, he went to school in Colorado to become an electrician; working as a lineman.
He later moved to Madison, Wisconsin, where he met the love of his life, Barbara Anderson. They were married in 1962 and spent 52 years together; traveling to 49 out of 50 states; always with their poodles. Dave worked as an elevator service man in Madison and was a member of Local Union 132, retiring in 1988.
Dave and Barb moved to Lodi, Wisconsin in 1979, living on Lake Wisconsin. They spent every summer water skiing as much as possible and playing in the water. Their home was a place where family and friends gathered often. If you couldn’t find them at home, they were camping somewhere with their RV.
In the winter, Dave was an avid snowmobiler. He and Barb belonged to the Lodi Yellow Thunders, the DeForest Golden Triangle Drifters and later, the Mt. Tabor Moonlite Riders. Dave decided if he was going to live where the winters were cold and snowy, he was going to enjoy it.
He spent many hours tinkering with anything that had an engine or was electric. If it was fixable, he could fix it. Another favorite pastime was playing board games and card games and he always played to win,
In 2001, Dave and Barb moved to Mt. Tabor, Wisconsin. In recent years he became an avid Brewers fan, never missing a game on T.V. He continued to love playing the card game of 500 and Barb was able to turn a 4 handed game into a 2 handed game, which they played daily.
Dave is survived by his wife, Barb; his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Marce Anderson, Ginny (Mark) Owens, Doris (Al) Skemp, Phyllis (Pete) Moore and Larry (Mary) Anderson; many special nieces and nephews, John (Marilyn) Clubb, Brian, Bob, Tim and Jonathon Clubb, Thor Anderson, Amy Tarkenton, Sandy Lomas, Cindy Owens, Paul Owens, Angie Novy, Kristie McCoic, Kim McCormick, Sarah, Bobby, Matthew and James Anderson; and special friend, Ryan Novy.
He was preceded in death by his Parents; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Marguerite and Ellery Anderson; six Brothers; two Sisters; special brother-in-law, Joe Novy and special nephew, Erik Anderson.
Funeral Services were held on Thursday, March 26, 2015 at 1 p.m. at the Picha Funeral Home in Hillsboro, with Rev. Isaac Fleming officiating, with a time of Visitation from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Burial with military rites was in the St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Mt. Tabor.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Good Samaritan Thrift Store, 128 Mill St., Hillsboro, WI 54634 or Home Health United Hospice, Baraboo, WI. Special thanks to Rev. Isaac Fleming and Home Health United Hospice for their wonderful care and support.
