David Fettiplace

Madison - David George Fettiplace, age 27,was born July 2, 1982, died Tuesday, March 2, 2010.

David died after an extended campaign against colon cancer that he endured stoically. He was diagnosed on Christmas Day, 2008, had surgery and chemotherapy, but the cancer returned in October 2009, at which point it was inoperable. He had battled against the pain and tumor growth since that time and, in the last two months, was diligently attended by the nurses from HospiceCare. He died at home surrounded by his family.

 

He was born in Cambridge, England to Merriel Kruse and Robert Fettiplace. He moved to Madison, WI, in 1990. David was very proud of his English and American roots. He attended Shorewood Hills Elementary, Velma Hamilton Middle School, and West High School, where he graduated in 2000. He was a talented photographer and artist, a cellist in the Wisconsin State Youth Orchestra, a mathematician who represented the state at the national MathCounts competition and had a fiendish skill at Go'. He attended Southampton University where he majored in computational chemistry. After college he worked for Channel 27 WKOW as an engineer, Glass Nickel Pizza as a driver, Advantage Tech as an engineer and Practiceworks Dental X-ray company in Stevenage, England, as a field service technician.

 

David will be greatly missed by his beloved partner Becky Ziolkowski (Cambridge, WI) and his many American and British friends. He is survived by his mother Merriel Kruse and father Robert Fettiplace (Madison), his son Callum Fettiplace (8), brother Michael Fettiplace (Baltimore, MD), his grandmother Mary Kruse (Moline, IL), aunt Michele Kruse (Sunnyvale, CA), uncle Mark Kruse (Daniela) and family (Evanston, IL), and aunt Barbara (Gerry) Richards (Elton, England). He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Maisie and George Robert Fettiplace (Nottingham, England) and maternal grandfather Merle ""Pete"" Kruse (Moline, IL). His mother and father are bereft at the loss of their wonderful son.

 

David had many gifts. He had a talent for friendship and had many friends on both sides of the Atlantic. He was intensely curious and was constantly learning. He loved cooking, which he took to with verve, and British football, becoming an Arsenal supporter when he was living in London. He was at his happiest dancing on a night out with his mates at a London club or disputing politics in a pub. He had a deep interest in economics, which was a career path he was considering. He will be remembered for his intelligence, social acumen and prolific knowledge. His progress was cruelly curtailed soon after embarking on a new phase of his life in London.

 

There will be an open house on Saturday, March 6, 2010 at his home in Madison from 3:00 until 6:00 PM. Contact the family for directions. A visitation will be held at CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 3610 Speedway Rd. on Sunday, March 7, 2010 at 2:30 PM followed by a funeral service at Cress, Speedway, on Sunday, March 7 at 4:00 PM.David's ashes will be buried at Forest Hill Cemetery, Madison, and at St. Mary's, Swinbrook in Oxfordshire, UK. David loved public radio and has requested that donations in his memory be made to Wisconsin Public Radio. In addition, David's son Callum is now without the resources of his father and that was a concern for David.  Donations could also be given to a trust fund set up for the benefit of Callum's education administered by his grandparents.The family would like to thank his hospice nurse Joanne Elfman, who did so much to respect David's wishes and his personal control during his illness.