Bakke, David David M. Bakke - Entered into Eternal Life in his home in Sun City West AZ on April 18, 2018 at the age of 79. David "Dave" Martin Bakke was born in Burlington WI on March 4, 1939 to Martin Anskar and Lydia (nee Wittenberger) Bakke. He graduated from Waterford High School in 1957 earning the nickname "Golden Toes" as kicker for the varsity football team. He attended Kendall College in Evanston IL with visions of an entrepreneurial future. He met Kathleen "Kathy" Violet Hearn through a classmate at Kendall College and they married in Boise, ID on May 3,1962 and had 3 children in Phoenix, AZ and Burlington, WI. Kathy passed away on November 12, 1974 from cancer. Dave was a single parent for 13 years. On December 2, 1986 in Hawaii, Dave married Catherine "Kay" Anna Parnello-Lantz of Rockford, IL . In November 1999, Dave and Kay achieved their long awaited dream of relocating to Sun City West, AZ to be close to Dave's beloved Aunts and leave behind the WI winters. Throughout his professional career, Dave was at his core a salesman. Being a skilled negotiator coupled with an irrepressible charm with people, he consistently won Top Salesman awards at many companies. His smile was infectious and he was a great conversationalist. He enjoyed studying philosophy, was a dedicated golfer, and educated himself about diverse topics of interest throughout his life including nutrition, meditation, psychology, politics, and religion. Dave is survived by his wife Kay. children Karin (David) Kingstad, Craig Bakke and Cynthia Bakke, Step-children Margaret Ann (Brian) Sears, Michael (Junell) Lantz and Marla (Eric) Wilson. Also survived by brothers Gil (Lorraine) Bakke and Paul (Mary) Bakke with many nieces and nephews. Preceeded in death by brother Charles Bakke and nephews Martin and Steven Bakke. Dave was the proud Grandpa of Brock (Luning Feng), Evan, and Daniel Kingstad, Aidan, Sophia and Ella Bakke, Damon, Ashly and Chad Lantz, Olivia Sears and Allison Wilson. Especially beloved by David was his one and only great-grandchild Magnus E. Kingstad. A graveside service will be held on July 21, 2018 at 2:00 PM at Norway Lutheran Church cemetery in Wind Lake, WI. A Memorial gathering of family and close friends to be held after graveside service at a family member's private residence.
Published in Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on July 15, 2018