David Fontanini

ONALASKA, WI— Dave Fontanini, age 73, of Onalaska, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 30, 2023, after a valiant battle with pancreatic cancer. He was born on January 21, 1950, in Des Moines, IA, the son of George and Pauline Fontanini. He attended Assumption Grade School in Granger, IA and Dowling High School in Des Moines, IA. After earning a Mechanical Engineering degree from Iowa State University in 1972, he worked for the Trane Company and Ingersoll Rand as an Applications and Compressor Engineer for 35 years.

Dave cared deeply about community. He was a member of the Phi Kappa Theta fraternity, an active member at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, and a dependable fixture in his neighborhood of Keller Court. Dave was a kind, gentle man with an endless knowledge of trivia on a plethora of topics. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends, eating Italian food, and classic cars. He especially enjoyed long road trips with his wife, Kathy, and the River City Corvette Club. Dave was selfless and always thinking about others. His final days were spent visiting with friends and family.

David is survived by his wife Kathy, their son Tony (Steph), and grandsons Brooks (4) and Owen (1). He was preceded in death by his parents George and Pauline Fontanini, and his in-laws, Carol and Wesley Bluske. He also leaves behind his sister-in-law Kristine (John) and brothers-in-law Ken (Kay) and Kevin (Donna), and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, May 6, 2023 at 11:00 AM at St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Friends may call on Friday from 4:00 – 6:00 PM at the Schumacher-Kish Funeral & Cremation Services, 907 Sand Lake Road, and at the Church on Saturday from 9:30 AM until the time of Services. In lieu of flowers, Memorials are preferred to the Gundersen Medical Foundation for Cancer Research.