Dave Dawson, of Menomonee Falls, died of a heart attack on October 18, 2017 at the age of 54. He was born in Rice Lake, WI on August 28, 1963 to Dean and Caroly Dawson. 

On April 23, 1994 he married Jane Multerer in Menominee, MI. He is survived by his wife and two sons, Nick and Ben; his brothers Brian (Cathy), John (Sue), and Mark (Joan); and further survived by many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Dave was a graduate of Barron High School Class of 1982. After high school, he earned a Bachelor of Applied Science and Mathematics degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stout. 

He began his Information Technology career at McDonnell Douglas/Boeing in Huntington Beach, CA as a Systems Administrator. He moved back to Wisconsin in 1993 to begin a 21 year career as Technical Systems Analyst at Quad Graphics in Sussex, WI.  In 2014, he became the Imaging Systems Administrator at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Wauwatosa, WI. 

A long-time resident of Menomonee Falls, WI, Dave served his community in many capacities including: volunteer, Ozaukee Washington Land Trust; Board member, Muskellunge Club of Wisconsin; an active member of the Heavenly Sounds Handbell Choir.

Dave enjoyed doing anything outdoors. He loved spending time at the Dawson family cabin on Prairie Lake, deer hunting in Minong, as well as hunting turkeys, and small game.  He loved fishing for all species of fish, including panfish and pike at the cabin and walleyes in the Menominee River but his true passion was musky fishing.  He spent many hours on lakes in Wisconsin as well as annual trips to Canada.  Always the true sportsmen, he got his enjoyment out of the whole experience of the adventure rather than the quantity of fish he caught.  Not only did he fish for muskies, he wrote several musky-related articles that were published in various magazines, he was instrumental in working with the local musky clubs to stock muskies in Milwaukee area lakes, and he encouraged both men and women everywhere in their musky fishing. 

Dave was also known for his skills in the kitchen and on the grill.  He enjoyed growing vegetables in his garden that he made into salsa, hot sauce and guacamole.  At family gatherings, Dave was known for his homemade lefse, cabbage salad and cherries in the snow.  At Christmas he made gallons of ice cream and huge bags of cotton-candy flavored popcorn that he gave to family and friends.

A Memorial Service will take place on Saturday, October 21, 2017, at 1:00 PM, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, (W156 N8131 Pilgrim Rd) in Menomonee Falls. The family will receive friends and relatives on Saturday at the church from 11AM until the time of the service.  Schmidt & Bartelt is assisting the family with arrangements. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials will be established for Dave’s sons’ college funds.