David “Dave” John Demske, 70, of De Pere, passed away peacefully on June 29, 2026, surrounded by his loved ones after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

Born June 1, 1956, at Bellin Hospital in Green Bay, Dave was the son of the late Arthur and June (Etmanczyk) Demske. He remained deeply connected to his roots throughout his life, spending his years on the family land in De Pere that has been in the Demske family since 1915. Dave attended Schink School, a one-room schoolhouse through fourth grade, before continuing on and graduating from De Pere High School.

On May 12, 1984, he married the love of his life, the former Anita Adamski. Together they recently celebrated 42 years of marriage. Of all the things Dave valued in life, nothing meant more to him than the family they built together.

A hardworking man from an early age, Dave spent his younger years working on the family farm Hill “N” Gully, in the apple and cherry orchards of Door County and later on railroads and in construction. He dedicated more than 30 years to the third shift at Brillion Iron Works. No matter the job, he carried himself with the same steady work ethic, reliability, and commitment to doing things the right way.

Dave will be remembered as an honest and trustworthy man with a great sense of humor. Whether he was sharing a cold beer (or a few) with a friend, riding his Harley, cheering on the Packers, or watching a storm roll in, he moved through the world with a quiet depth and appreciation for the moments that mattered. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting and fishing, conserving the outdoors, and spending time at the cabin in White Lake.

Nature was both a source of peace and purpose for Dave. He cared deeply for the land and found great satisfaction in tending to it. With strong hands and a generous heart, he built not only a home but a life rooted in family, hard work, and purpose. Guided by the belief that people should treat one another with kindness and respect, he hoped to leave the world a little better than he found it, a legacy reflected in the way he lived each day.

Friends and family affectionately referred to Dave as a “dog whisperer.” His love for dogs was unmistakable, and every dog he owned was never far from his side.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Anita; his daughters, Cody (Kheenan) Halvorson, Cayla Demske (Michael Barnhoorn), and Corine (Nicholas) Hassemer; and his beautiful grandchildren, Marshall, Leo, and Roman Halvorson; Loretta, Lee, and Louis Hassemer; and Elidy and Bodhi Barnhoorn; and his faithful dog, Archie.

He is further survived by his sisters, Sandy Krause, Barbara (Robert) Madding, Judie (George) Viens, Rebecca Demske, and Lisa (Paul) Terry; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, John (Patti) Adamski, Nancy Adamski, Craig Compton, Joe (Julie) Adamski, Linda (Jeff) VandenLangenberg, Robert Adamski, Frank (Mandy) Adamski, and Helen (David) Jashinsky; along with many nieces and nephews.

Dave was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and June Demske; his parents-in-law, Eugene and Sylvia Adamski; his brother, John Demske; brother-in-law, Gary Krause; and sister-in-law, Joan Compton.

A memorial service celebrating his life will be held on Sunday, July 12, 2026, 12:00 p.m. at Greenleaf Volunteer Fireman’s Park, 1588 Fair Road, Greenleaf, WI 54126, where all who knew and loved him are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you plant a tree in Dave’s honor — a fitting tribute to his lifelong love of nature and the land he called home. His favorite tree was a Hickory tree.