David T. Hemauer, Appleton, WI, age 87, died at his home on Monday, November 11, 2024.  He was born in Stockbridge, WI, on October 16, 1937 to the late Joseph and Evangeline (O'Toole) Hemauer.  Dave graduated from Stockbridge High School in 1955, where he excelled at basketball.  He married Marlene Basler on June 21,1958 in Chilton, WI.  They were married 60 years before Marlene passed away in September, 2018, from Alzheimer's disease. It is to be noted that Dave took great care of Marlene for 5 years before it became necessary to move her to a memory care facility. He missed her very much.

Dave had several different jobs after high school until he found his calling as a City of Appleton firefighter in 1965.  He eventually attained the rank of Captain in 1988 before retiring in 1991.

In 1967, he built a home on Telulah Avenue in Appleton, in which he and Marlene raised their family.  They worked very hard to provide for their son and two daughters.  When they became empty nesters, they sold this home, and Dave built another one in Appleton in 1986 for him and Marlene.

In Dave's retirement years, he and his son-in-law Joe built homes for each of Dave's daughters Karri and Kristi.  He also remodeled his son Jeff's home, and did other numerous building and remodeling projects for his family and friends.  He was quite the meticulous carpenter!

Dave was a sports fanatic.  He was an avid fan of the Green Bay Packers, Wisconsin Badgers, Milwaukee Brewers and Milwaukee Bucks.  In his younger years, he played softball on the Appleton Fire Department softball team and enjoyed the camaraderie with his fellow firefighters. He cherished golfing with his son Jeff.  In his later years, Dave shared his golfing skills with his Tuesday and Thursday buddies until he was 86 years old.

Dave loved and adored his grandchildren and great grandchildren, and they loved and adored him right back.

Dave is survived by his daughters: Karri (Joe) Schulz, Appleton; and Kristi Hemauer, Appleton; daughter-in-law: Kris Hemauer, Mounds View, MN; grandchildren:  Justin Hemauer, Emily (Eric) Winkel, Jessica Schulz (significant other Nick Everson), Laura Schulz, and Jenna (Chris) Morris; great grandchildren:  Lincoln and Presley Winkel; and Jeran and Brody Morris; sister:  Mary Criter; and brothers and sisters-in-law:  Leroy (Sandy) Basler, Dennis Basler, and Patricia Basler.  He is further survived by many wonderful nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

In addition to his parents, Dave was preceded in death by his wife, Marlene; son, Jeffrey Hemauer; siblings:  Art (Rosie) Hemauer, Margaret (Arthur) Daun, Earl "Jack" (Chris) Hemauer, Charles (Joan) Hemauer, and Willard (Mary) Hemauer; and brothers-in-law: Don Criter and John N. Basler.

Karri and Kristi would like to thank Dave's neighbors for enduring his "humor," and also for just being great neighbors to him.

Dave was fun, always optimistic, a great storyteller, and quite the talker!

There will be no formal services.  A celebration of his life will be held at a later date.

A memorial fund is being established.