David D. King

David D. King, age 86 of Van Dyne, passed away on Friday, October 10, 2025, at St. Agnes Hospital with his loving family by his side, just 13 days away from their 60th wedding anniversary. He was born in Prince Frederick, Maryland, on March 23, 1939 son of the late John and Grace (Baker) King. He grew up having a happy childhood swimming, running barefoot on the beach and fishing. The family was poor, and they lived in government housing in Washington, D.C. for a time. His mother and Dad worked so his half-sisters, Celeste, Grace, and Martha Mae Marchal, took very good care of him. Dave had a sister, Juanita Carole, who was born in 1944. She died in 1959 of heart problems.

Looking for a better job opportunity, his folks moved to Wisconsin as his married sister Martha Mae and her husband, Rexford Taylor lived in Fond du Lac. John and Grace bought a house in Peebles. Dave was about 13 and was teased on the school bus about his eastern accent. He left high school before graduating and joined the Army Reserves and after his boot camp he started work at Kiekhaefer Mercury (the barn) in 1959. Dave (Don) didn't like the weekend meetings of reserve after a while and took leave from Kiekhaefer and joined the Coast Guard, which he thoroughly enjoyed, especially his time in Alaska. When he completed his Coast Guard stint, he went back to Kiekhaefer. At "the barn" he started canning oil, later worked in heat treat, repair, test and was a union representative. Later he joined the company and was an industrial engineer and a supervisor. He retired from Mercury Marine in 1998. He then accepted a job as a supervisor at The Mayline Company in Sheboygan and retired for good in 2002.

Dave (Don) lived life fully and joyfully. He rodeoed, trained, shod and showed quarter horses successfully. He practiced martial arts, fished, bow and gun hunted, was a boy scout leader, and helped coach Little League baseball. He was a very dedicated employee, husband and father. He enjoyed new challenges; he sided and shingled his first house, remodeled it, fixed appliances and everything that needed fixing. He learned about computers on his own and was good at using them. He furthered his education while he was working. He loved his wife, children and his dog, Maggie.

He married the love of his life, JoAnn Krug on October 23, 1965, at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Dotyville. They had three boys: Paul David (special friend Michelle Gray); of Fond du Lac, WI; Phillip Donald of Fond du Lac, WI; and Stephen Michael of Fond du Lac.

He is survived by his wife, JoAnn; his three sons; Michelle Gray; a special grandson, Dakota Dahl; two twins; Brian King of Athens, TN. and Brett of OK. grandsons, and great grandchildren and nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Carole; three half- sisters and a granddaughter, Kassandra King and Vicky Taylor, niece.

Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Friday, October 17, 2025, at 11 am at Holy Family Catholic Parish, 271 Fourth St. Way, Fond du Lac. Visitation will be from 9:30 until the time of Mass. Burial will take place at Ledgeview Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorials made to a charity of your choice in Don’s loving memory.