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David Grinsel Obituary
Neenah - On October 23, 2018 the world lost a gentle soul who was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, brother, brother in-law, uncle and friend.
David Carl Grinsel was the first baby to be born in Eau Claire County on January 1, 1945. (No gifts were given to his parents because it was a time of war.) Dave was the third son born to Jack and Doris Grinsel.
Dave grew up in Eau Claire attending Boyd Elementary School, Eau Claire Junior High, and his beloved Memorial High School. (Dave felt sorry for anyone who wasn't an OLD ABE.) After graduating from Memorial, Dave attended UW Eau Claire and graduated in January, 1968 with a degree in Business Administration.
On July 22, 1967, Dave married Kathleen Zukaitis. This year they celebrated 51 years of marriage. Dave entered the Air Force in June of 1968 and was selected to study at Syracuse University to become a Russian linguist. After security school in San Angelo, TX and a few months at Offutt Air Base in Omaha, NE, Dave was sent to Rhein Main Air Base in Germany where he spent the next two years flying in the back of a C130 recording and then translating Russian intercepts.
After four years in the military, Dave took a job with Kimberly Clark in Hendersonville, N. C. Six years later, Dave was transferred to Neenah, WI. From Neenah, he went to Paris, TX and then eventually back to Neenah. Dave loved going to work every day and loved all of the people who he came in contact with.
Dave was the proud father of three wonderful children: Jennifer, Jodi and Mark. He was always an active participant in their lives and the lives of their children.
Besides his family, Dave loved skiing down a mountain, riding his motorcycle all over the country on back roads, and watching the Badgers no matter what the sport! He was also known "to cut a rug" whenever he could.
The past several years Dave has fought an unbeatable fight with a neurological disease, PSP. This disease took a terrible toll on Dave, but he never complained and always tried to keep on living the best that he could. He never lost his smile.
Dave is survived by his wife, Kathy, his children Jennifer (Jeff) Borths, Jodi (Sean) Clifford, and Mark. He is also survived by his five granddaughters, Ellie, Anya and Neve Clifford and Seaenah and River Grinsel. He is further survived by his brothers John (Gi), and Jim (Diane), in-laws Judy and Larry Perkin, Cindy and Kirk Dahl, Michele and Bob McCormick, Teri and Joel Sullivan, and Laurie Zukaitis. Dave has many nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly.
Dave was preceded in death by his parents, Jack Grinsel and Doris Backstrom, his in-laws Frank and Charlene Zukaitis, his brother in-laws Jim and Rick Zukaitis and his daughter in-law Michelle Grinsel.
Visitation will be held on Friday, November 2, 2018, from 9:00-11:00 AM with funeral to follow at First Presbyterian Church, 200 Church St, Neenah, with Rev. Paul Huxtable officiating. Military Honors will follow with the Neenah/Menasha Veterans Honor Guard. The family requests that if you wish to honor Dave with a donation, please think about one of the following: Thedacare At Home Hospice , 1818 North Meade St. Appleton, WI 54911, Valley VNA Senior Services, 1535 Lyon Dr. Neenah, WI 54956 Or CURE PSP, 1216 Broadway, New York, NY 10001.
God bless all of the wonderful caregivers that touched Dave's life.
Westgor Funeral Home
205 W. Doty Ave Neenah 722-7151
Condolences: www.westgorfuneralhomes.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for David Grinsel
Sponsored by Westgor Funeral Home - Neenah.
Jim Fitzgerald
June 4, 2022
I'm sorry to learn of Dave's passing in 2018. We both worked in logistics for Kimberly-Clark and our paths crossed many times. Dave was a great guy. My condolences to his family.
Jim Fitzgerald
Roswell, GA
Edward Foley
January 1, 2019
Dave got me into riding a motorcycle again. Something I gave up in my youth. I remember talking to him often in the West Office one parking lot about riding. He help me understand that you could enjoy riding and minimizing the risk of that choice. He was a nice man and shared his knowledge with his co-workers.
Allen & Susan Pachmayer
November 18, 2018
In loving memory of a wonderful person. We will love you and miss you always. Thought of you folks often as Carol and Bruce have kept us up to date. The very best to you and the kids
Kathie Gilchrist Hevey
November 13, 2018
Always remember his great smile,
Motor cycles and skiing with the group from Kerms Superway...
what fun times those were.
So sorry for your loss...
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Wil Ayers
November 1, 2018
Kathy and family, our prayers and thoughts are with you. Dave will be missed by all of us who had the pleasure of knowing him. I met Dave in 1987 and worked for/with him for the next sixteen years. These years were some of my best years with K-C. Working with Dave was rewarding and fun. Dave and his team always put our customers first and we were most respected above our competitors.
Don Luker
October 31, 2018
Kathy please accept our condolences. So surprised and shocked to learn of Dave's passing. The good guys just seem to go before their time.
First met Dave in Paris TX where he did a stellar job, thereafter our paths crossed from time to time in K-C. He was always on the ball and well respected for his expertise and his values, especially by those he mentored.
Tom Payne
October 31, 2018
Dave set the bar pretty high as a husband, father, grandfather, friend, fellow church member and colleague...a hard act to follow. I had the pleasure of knowing Dave as a fellow Neenonian ,member of 1st Pres and as a K-C colleague. What was most evident was his ability to help people in the heat of the moment find the right decision for the right reasons. He had the ability to find balance and not lose his way or be distracted by personalities or biases. He made a difference in peoples lives and that is perhaps the most enduring legacy any of us can hope for.
Three of our many rides..!<br />
Jim Johnson
October 30, 2018
Three of our many rides!
Georgia Grilley Hitzke
October 29, 2018
Dave was my special best guy friend as a teenager. He spent many a night at Dances waiting for my signal to cut in and get rid of the unwanted boy. What else would a great friend do for you. My name being Grilley, we always sat next to each other in class and assembly until our senior year when Shirley Grover sat between us and would not move. It infuriated us and got to be our joke, as I reminded Dave when I saw him in July.
Kathy please know my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
God speed my good friend, you will be missed.
Bob Campbell
October 29, 2018
Kathy, John, Jim and your families.
I was so sorry to hear about Dave. Please know you are all in my thoughts and prayers.
I've known Dave for over fifty years, although the last time I saw him, I was walking out of the Base Exchange in San Angelo. Our military careers mirrored each other about six months apart, although he went to Syracuse and Germany, while I attended Monterey and was in Alaska and England. Oh how I wish we could have sat down and swapped stories. We flew some of the same routes.
Kathy, you, your children and grandchildren can be very proud of Dave. I know how important his job in the service was to the country. He might not have made a big deal of it, but you should know that it was.
I have to echo all of the nice things that others have already said. I knew Dave as a great co-worker and a true gentleman, maybe a rarity at Kerm's in the 60's.
Again, to Kathy, John and Jim, my sincere condolences to you and your families.
Anya, Grandpa & Grandma
Jennifer Borths
October 29, 2018
Michael Berg
October 29, 2018
Have not seen Dave since High School but sure recognize that Great smile.
Rest in Peace Friend.
Michael Berg, Eau Claire MHS class of '63
Michael Flaherty
October 29, 2018
Sorry to hear of the loss to you and your family.
Jim Lopas
October 29, 2018
I was lucky to meet Dave early in my career with Kimberly-Clark and was fortunate to call him a friend. During my time at KC If someone were to ask me about Dave, Id say he was some one who understood the concept of putting the customer and team first. He was a tue believer in managing by walking around and leading by example. And what an example he set, just ask anyone who ever came in contact with him.
Roxann Barrow
October 29, 2018
Thinking of your family and sending prayers your way. Obviously he was a wonderful man and raised a beautiful family.
nancy heiser
October 28, 2018
I worked with Dave for many years at K-C. Such a great person!
Kathy Delchambre
October 28, 2018
I remember Dave as being a great guy with a great sense of humor. He was very highly thought of at K-C. So sorry to hear that he has passed. My thoughts will be with you during this difficult time.
Diane Luft
October 28, 2018
I am so very sorry for your loss. Sending you prayers for strength and comfort.
Judy Perkins
October 28, 2018
David was my brother in law for 51 years. I lived with Dave and Kathy in Germany and again spent a month with them in North Carolina, he always welcomed me into his house, actually he taught me how to clean and make a bathroom shine. He truly was a super nice guy that would help you whenever you needed him (even when my car died in -22 below zero). David your three awesome kids are a true testimony to the man you are. Your love for my sister Kathy was just simply the BEST. Judy
Teena Keesler
October 28, 2018
Kathy and family, May our loving God comfort you all during this sad time. So very sorry for your loss. Rest In Peace Dave.
Julie Schmidt
October 28, 2018
To the Grinsel family, I worked in Customer Service with Dave for many years. He was a great person to work for. Always fair and had a great sense of humor. Sending prayers for you all. Keep his memories close. Rest In Peace Dave.
Dave and Luann Hopkins
October 28, 2018
Kathy and family, we are sorry for your loss. Dave was so kind and we enjoyed working with him. May the memories you have bring you peace and comfort always. Rest In Peace Dave.
October 28, 2018
Thank you for your service to our country. May you rest in peace.
Missy Holz
October 28, 2018
Prayers of peace and comfort to all the knew and loved Dave. May he rest in peace. It was a pleasure to work with him at KC.
John and Lynn Gilmore
October 27, 2018
Dave always treated everyone as an equal. He was a very kind person and always had a smile on his face. John, Cathy, and I are very sorry for your loss and our thoughts are with you.
Pam and Gary Fenner
October 26, 2018
We are so saddened to hear of Dave's passing and extend our sympathies to you Kathy and the rest of your family. We always enjoyed visiting with Dave when he was in Eau Claire with his childhood and high school friends and it was obvious he loved to share stories of the past with them. He always had a big smile and a warm greeting for us. You and your family are in our prayers.
Lana Pavlak
October 26, 2018
Kathy and family, my heart aches for all of you. He was truly a kind man and I enjoyed working with him when he was in Customer Service. Everyone loved him! I pray that all the memories will
bring you peace and comfort in the days ahead. God bless you all.
Trip to Packer game. Friends since kindergarden
Jim Widner
October 26, 2018
Pete Peterson
October 26, 2018
Without question, an outstanding person I had the privilege to know since meeting Dave when he came to work at the Berkeley Mill, we spent lots of years together, too few, but thankful to have known the best of the best. I know from visiting the Paris Mill with Dave they loved him dearly and gave him a loving roast when he left them to return to Neenah. When Dave and I would visit a mill together everyone would light up to see him, as he had such a positive effect on whoever he came in contact with. I loved it when we would start a Quality Meeting and Dave would introduce us as Frick and Frack visit the Mills and then tell the audience I wont say which one of us is the big Frick from Neenah, you figure it out, they loved it and truly loved him coming to the mills. How hard to see what his illness did to such a great guy, but he handled it unbelievable well. I will miss the best friend anyone could have and remember him as he was prior to his illness, so long for now best friend. Love ya, Pete
Liz Neuman
October 26, 2018
Dave was the Director of Customer Service when I worked in his organization. He was so kind, smart and always had a smile and a positive comment (and a great sense of humor!). He was one of a kind. Thoughts and prayers are with you.
Sandy (Zukaitis) Peterson
October 25, 2018
Kathy and family. So sorry to hear of the passing of your loved one. Thoughts and prayers are with you.
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