David Gourlie

Gourlie, David G. > MADISON - David G. Gourlie, age 71, died peacefully on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2007, at the Don and Marilyn Anderson HospiceCare Center, surrounded by the love of his family. David was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle, and a very thoughtful friend to many. He was born in Watertown, on Aug. 14, 1935, the son of Grace and David Gourlie. David graduated from Hartford High School in 1953. He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1954 and spent the next four years serving his country, including a year on a mountain top in Alaska and another year at a radio transmitter site in South Dakota. While in South Dakota, he met and married his first wife, Norma Jean Merrill, who is the mother of his three daughters, Julie (Tom) Buss of Madison, Lisa Kueter of Sun Prairie and Lori (Chris) Lampe of Madison. When he returned from the service, he attended the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and graduated with a bachelors degree in 1962. He then began his 30 year career with the state of Wisconsin Bureau of Personnel (later the Department of Employment Relations) and served in many capacities, including local government consultant, labor negotiator and Human Resource Director for the Department of Public Instruction before retiring in 1992. David married his current wife, Marian (Holzschuh) Walluks on March 17, 1985 and has spent the years since then enjoying many hours dancing, attending sporting events, golfing, traveling, doing wagon trains and sharing other adventures with her. David loved sports, playing them, watching them and reading about them. He played ball for 50 years, including baseball, and fast and slow pitch softball and was inducted into the Rock River League Hall of Fame in 1994. In his later years, he loved to golf and even had a hole-in one in 1994. David was also a great fan of football, hockey and basketball and attended many Badgers football and hockey games and high school basketball games. One of his greatest joys was to take pictures and share them with friends and family in creative and thoughtful ways. Those remaining to remember him and his wonderful creativity and humor include his wife, Marian; former wife, Norma Jean; his daughters and sons-in-law; brothers, Richard Gourlie of Oconomowoc and Ronald (Connie) Gourlie of Texas; a sister, Carol (Paul) Schenck of Michigan; four grandchildren, Dawn Buss, Nicole (Jerry) Meyer, Ryann Kueter and Emma Kueter; step-grandchildren, Tony, Matt and Bre Lampe; an aunt, Ruth Gourlie of Jefferson; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends, all of whom he loved very deeply. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Dale; and sister-in-law, Lois Gourlie. A celebration of Davids life will be held on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2007, at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m., with a special time of remembrance at 4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, David has asked that donations be made to the John Barth Scholarship Fund for high school athletes in Wisconsin. The family will forward any checks received. A special thanks goes to all of the dedicated HospiceCare staff, who gave David such loving care during his final month. Gunderson East Funeral and Cremation Centers 5203 Monona Drive (608) 221-5420 www.gundersonfh.com