David Stucki

David Richard Stucki, age 81, of Waunakee, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend died December 12 from complications of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). He was born April 13, 1935 in Neillsville, Wisconsin to Benjamin and Ella Stucki.

David attended his first eight grades at the Winnebago Indian School in Neillsville where his father was a missionary with the Winnebago (Ho Chunk) tribe and graduated from Neillsville High in 1953. He received his BA in Philosophy from Lakeland College, his teaching degree from UW-Eau Claire and his MA from UW-Madison. After additional post graduate studies he worked for the UW-Madison in Student Statistics and Institutional Studies and was appointed the Director of Institutional Studies for the UW Center System. He then worked for the State of Wisconsin as Executive Secretary of the Educational Approval Board until retirement. He served as the National Secretary and National Vice-President of the National Association of State Approving Agencies. He received certificates of appreciation from the Department of Veterans education.

In his younger days, before MS claimed so much of his energy, he raced motorcycles, flew down hill on 7 ft skis & could climb a 30 ft rope using just his arms. But his true strength, his intellect, was not claimed by MS until much later. Dad had a thirst for knowledge that was insatiable. He enjoyed Shakespeare before age 12 yrs and had a subscription to Scientific American and several other journals like this until the very end. He was a gifted educator. Most importantly, he taught us, his children, how to ride the rapids in a canoe, use a drill, set up a campsite in 30 min flat, ice skate (in the rink he made in our yard), use Excel, shoot a gun, build a swing set, ride a motorcycle, fly a plane, diagnose appendicitis, make wine (which he bottled by the hundreds), split wood, do taxes, and how to write an essay without a single unnecessary word!

David and Dawn, having married & started their family by the time they were 23 & 21, were also young grandparents. They came to St. Louis nearly every month to be with Katherine, Lily and Jake. Grandpa loved to cuddle Jake while they watched train videos, tossed Lil and KK high in the pool & gave Jake rides on his back. They loved to ride his scooter & beep its horn at passersby. Katherine & Lily, in particular, loved to camp with Grandpa each summer.

In retirement he became involved in senior care, becoming very active in AARP in local, state and national committees. He was member of the AARP National Legislative Council helping to set official policy. He was also active with RSVP serving on committees, the Board of directors as Vice-President and President, delivering meals on wheels and being a driver escort. He was active in the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups, Area Agency on Aging of Dane County Metastar, the Medicare Integrity Project, the Cemetery Advisory committee for the State of Wisconsin and a volunteer ombudsman for the Board on Aging and Long Term Care. He was co-host of the SENIOR BEAT program on CitiCable. He was awarded the Volunteer of the Year Award from the Village of Waunakee.

He was active in the First Unitarian Society on many committees including Finance Committee co-chair and President of the FUS Foundation.
David is survived by Dawn, his wife of 60 years, daughter Judith Stucki and three grandchildren, Katherine (Zachary) Bruere, Elizabeth and Jacob Simeon, sister Elizabeth Stucki, sister-in-law Barbara Stucki, sister-in-law Shirley (Lawrence) Henderlong, brother-in-law Forrest (Emily) Nielsen, sister-in-law Wendy (Glen) Hellwig and bother-in-law Glenn (Susan) Nielsen. He was preceded in death by his daughter Elizabeth and grandson Robert Nicholson Jr., two sisters, Marie and Esther and three brothers Jacob, Benjamin and William.

All of David's family extends a heartfelt thank you to all the wonderful people at Homestead Living for the loving care they gave him during his final years. They also extend their thanks to Agrace Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the David R. Stucki & Dawn E. Stucki Pediatric Research Fund in the University of Wisconsin, 1848 University Ave., Madison or RSVP of Dane County, 517 North Segoe Rd., Madison or to the First Unitarian Society, 900 University Bay Drive, Madison would be appreciated.

A private burial will take place at the Indian Mission, Black River Falls. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Cress Center
6021 University Ave.
Madison, WI 53705
608-238-8406