David Glen Pilger

Sun Prairie- David G. Pilger, age 55, died tragically in a motorcycle accident on Saturday, October 18, 2008 in Columbia County.  He was born on May 12, 1953 in Beardstown, IL the son of Daryle H. & H. Maxine (Davis) Pilger.  A loving husband and caring father, David was united in marriage to Claudia Calder on August 17, 1974. Where he and Claudia  married very young, they grew together as adults and became best friends together.  David grew up on a farm and was active in the 4-H, FFA and the Boy Scouts of America.  ""You can take the boy out of Beardstown, but you can't take Beardstown out of the boy."" David graduated from Beardstown H.S. Class of 1971 and Illinois Central College, Peoria, IL in 1973. He later was a  Boy Scout leader for his sons in Nekoosa and Sun Prairie.  David was a naturalist who loved to cross country ski, hike, canoe, bike, camp and hunt.  He especially looked forward to his annual turkey hunt and deer hunt with his buddies from the Nekoosa area.  David didn't go on vacations but went on ""adventures"".  Dave loved to work in his garage on anything that had an engine.  He loved to ride his motorcycle and took many trips with his wife from as far as Niagara Falls to St. Louis and all points in-between. By trade he was a heavy equipment technician and most recently was employed with Ideal Crane.   David is survived by his wife, Claudia; sons, Claude and Aaron (Jessica Smith); his parents, Daryle & H. Maxine Pilger; his brother, Richard (Marilyn) Pilger; his sisters, Mary Ann (Larry) Lambert and Barbara Lovekamp; nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by a sister, Donna Pilger.    A visitation will be held on Friday, October 24, 2008 from 5-8:00 p.m. at the Cress Funeral Home, 1310 Emerald Terrace, Sun Prairie, WI.  A Memorial service will be held at a later date in Beardstown, IL. Cress Funeral & Cremation Service 1310 Emerald Terrace Sun Prairie, WI www.cressfuneralservice.com