A private memorial service will be held in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, at a later date.
Dave was born March 7, 1947, in Lacrosse, Wisconsin, to LeRoy and Marlys (Titcomb) Mielke. He grew up in Lacrosse and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Dave spent four years in the US Army as an interceptor and translator in Berlin Germany. He was very proud of his time in the Service, and of the lifelong friendships he made during that time. After his time in the Army, he worked many jobs, ranging from the oil fields of Texas to a mental health facility in Wisconsin. Work was simply a means to pay the bills though, while he pursued his true passion of writing. Dave authored numerous short stories and self-published two books. He was working on another book at the time of his death.
Dave followed the politics of the world closely, and would often share his opinions with anyone he could talk into debating. He passed along his love of writing to both his daughters; and his love of good music to his grandkids. He enjoyed anything to do with motorcycles, loved to grow tomatoes, loved his cat Ossie, and never turned down a good piece of lasagna.
In Dave’s own words “Life is suffering, life is Joy. I’ve never achieved much in the eyes of the world but I’ve loved and suffered to the full extent of my being. I look back on an unusual life, but at least it has been interesting…Blessed be the body and health to all its parts. See Ya Around.”
Dave is survived by:
Daughter - Heather (Pete) Buttaro of Columbus, NE
Daughter – Sarah Mielke of Englewood, CO
Grandchildren - Jazz, Riley, and Mason Buttaro of Columbus, NE
Great Granddaughter - Journey Pritchard of Columbus, NE
Father - LeRoy (Joan) Mielke of Tavernier FL
Sister - Janis Bunck of RioVista, CA
Sister - Zoe Miegs of Ft. Worth TX
Brother - Jerry (Karen) Mielke of Cudahy, WI
His cat Ossie
Numerous cousins, nieces and nephews, and dear friends
Dave was preceded in death by:
Mother - Marlys Titcomb Mielke
Brother-in-law - Peder Bunck
Grandparents and numerous uncles, aunts, and cousins
One of Dave's books was a novel about Teufelsberg, written under the pen name David Von Norden: Death On Devil's Mountain. http://www.amazon.com/Death-Devils-Mountain-David-Norden/dp/1449503853
