David Coady

I first met Dave when he was a work study student at the SPPD and I was a patrol Officer. Dave and I became friends and we worked together on drivers safety classes. He was a very dedicated and trustworthy friend who made friends the first time you met. He always had a smile for everyone. Not only did we share interests on the job, we also had many social gatherings where he would bring a smile to everyone there. He will be missed and the state lost a truly loyal member. He is in Gods care now and probably working on heavens highways.

Our deepest sympathy to his girlfriend Lynn and Dave's family. We and many were shocked to hear of Dave's heart problems and death. Dawn and I had lost track of Dave after he moved up North and regret the loss in contact. We had heard he went to a doctor of Friday and was scheduled at Saint Marys hospital for by-pass surgery. It was discovered he needed a heart transplant and thus he was transfered to UW Hospital. Only the immediate family could even get through to the nurses station. We new it was serious, but hopeful. Dave was a good friend to many and he would do anything he could for anyone. With deep sympathy, Dawn & Gary

Dear Lynn, Angeline, Joe, John and the rest of Dave's family, Dave was the first to send the registration for himself and his guest to attend our class re-union this year, but unfortunately his plans changed and he did not make it. We missed seeing him and enjoying his sense of humor. We will honor his memory with a donation to the memorial scholarship fund of the Necedah High School Alumni Association. It seems appropriate to promote scholarship and help other Necedah graduates continue their education. I'm not sure who authored the obituary, but it was a very nice tribute to Dave. Our sincere sympathy. Brenda & Charlie Krupa

Our deepest sympathy to Lynn and the Coady family. I was devastated when I heard the news of Dave's passing. I met Dave in Baldwin Hall at Stevens Point, I think the first time when I went to him for a hair cut. He was a great guy with the highest of morals and ethics of anyone I know. We had a silly constant banter back and forth about the Public sector and Private sector. In his days with Highway Safety, we would go out for dinner when he traveled to Rhinelander. In 1976 he took a couple of days off and helped me rebuild a minature golf course we were starting. His most recent help was assisting in getting a title straightened out for an older vehicle. The last time we talked he mentioned he was having some chest pains. I tried to convence him to go see a doctor immediately, but he said it was probably just stress and he had an appointment already scheduled for the following week. I called him on the 20th to see how he was doing and got the message that his calls were being directed to another number. They were then the bearers of the bad news. Joy and I will remember him fondly. He was a great guy. Excellent eulogy, it certainly recaped what made him so great. Again my condolences to all.

Hello everyone I want to thank those of you who have responded and shared some of your memories. I thought I'd share just a bit about what Dave and I had been up to over the past couple of years. Dave and I go back to the days that he attended college in Stevens Pont. In fact while he did his work study at the SPPD my father Leonard Perlak was an officer on the force. WE had a very large home at the time and Dad offered Dave the opportunity to rent a room in our family home. The setting was perfect for Dave, It was an upstairs room his bedroom was located at the end of the hall away from the rest of us, he had his own private bathroom across the hall and what we called in those days a sun porch which he could go out on to read and relax. Dave made a huge impression on my family during that time. He was always friendly and kind, and while I was just a kid. I had the biggest crush on him, the song 'go away little girl' comes to mind; as my heart broke each time he brought a date over to visit with my parents. Well lucky for me, on my 18th birthday Dave asked my parents permission to take me out to dinner!! Wow!! I could not have been more smitten. HE TOOK ME to the Silver Coach. the most formal date before this was probably a hamburger at Mc Donalds.!! He graduated from UWSP that spring and he had applied for the SPPD for a police officer, and was informed that he was over qualified for the position, so soon after that he was hired for the State and I seldom saw him after that. I got married in 1977 remained in Stevens Point, and Dave and I pretty much lost contact In 1994, we bumped into one another again, I was single again, so we dated for a good part of that summer. I recall he helped me prepare for my dads retirement party that year and was suppose to accompany me to the party. Unfortunately the distance and our busy lives, again caused us to continue on our separate paths. I was attending the UWSP, working part time and raising my two boys. While Dave was quickly advancing in his career with the DMV and serving as Municipal Court Judge in Belleville, plus teaching Group Dynamics at MATC. Soon after my graduation, I was sent to Madison for a training, and that is when the rest of our lives together started. Dave has been the best thing that could have ever happened to me, he always supported my efforts to continue my education. If ever I became weary he gently reminded me of my goals and occasionally pointed out a path that I might have overlooked. He taught me how to love unconditionally. He taught me tolerance, something I never even had thought to be important before. I could write a book, but instead I'll leave you all with this very special story. Dave went in to the hospital on Friday the 13th. We both worked late the Thursday evening before and he was already sleeping when I arrived home. Dave always set his alarm for 3:30 AM and arrived at his office by 4:30. There he enjoyed reading the State Journal, a cup of coffee, and some time to relax before facing his day. For this reason I generally didn't see Dave for long in the AM's either. On this Friday I again worked late. To my surprise Dave was not home when I arrived home Friday evening. I was worried, but did not get to the panic state when he called me to tell me that he was in the hospital. He expected that he would have a bypass surgery on Saturday AM and be ready to come home by Saturday or Sunday... Well that was Dave's thinking. I Joined Dave Saturday AM and met his surgen. At that time we were informed that the surgery was very serious, but none the less It was expected that surgery would start about 10:00 AM and be done by around 2:00 Dave never came out of surgery until well after 6:00 PM. The Doctor explained that the surgery went well, but that Dave's heart was in such a weakened state that he was unable to remove the bypass equipment in order to close him up. After the third attempt failed the doctor opted to close him up but to keep him on the heart and lung machine as a recovery tool. the Doctor told us that due to Dave's age he was a good candidate for a heart transplant. Sadly Dave never even regained consciousness. What was significant though, was that when I say Dave was generous I mean that in more ways then just monitary. Often Dave would sit back and observe, he'd listen carefully to what others told him. He never reacted impulsively, However if you were important to Dave and he felt that what you might be asking of him was important to you, he would always come through. In this instance, I became a grandmother for the first time on December 06, 06. Dave did not have the opportunity to me my grandchild; Landin Eric Lukasavage. There was no real specific reason really, the opportunity simply had not arouse. Anyway, I did express that I was hoping the day would come soon. Landin is a very happy baby with smiling Irish eyes. I'm certain Dave would have enjoyed teaching him all about history and the constitution and maybe even how to catch fish one day. Well, when Dave became ill, Many of my family members rallied around me, remember they all knew and loved Dave as well; Both of my sons took turns being near me during this difficult time. On July 17th, Dave's Sister and I were in a hurry to get to the hospital as some tests were planned to determine Daves mental capacities and heart function. My Son Jeramy, his wife and their son Landin had to Return to Appleton. My sister Dawn stayed in town, but Carol and I let her sleep in that morning. Well as it turned out the news from the doctor was not good, the neurologist informed us that Dave had suffered brain damage in all areas of his brain, his heart remained seriously week, and other organs were beginning to show signs of damage as well. Dave had his affairs in order and his wishes well known, his sister Carol was his power of health and together Carol and I made the decision to let Dave go. According to his expressed wishes and as two people who knew and loved him deeply, understanding he would not have wanted a life without full functioning of his brain, or having extremely limited independence. Life support was removed and Dave passed gently and peacefully with in just a few short minuets. During this time only Carol and I were with him. Dawn had arrived on time to be informed of Dave's condition. She said she would go outside to contact family. One of those on the list was of course Jeramy and his family who had just left a few hours before. Jeramy said that Landin (7mo.old) had been crying relentlessly before receiving Dawn's call. In fact when the phone started to ring Jeramy was having such a difficult time with Landin that he did not think he was going to be able to answer the call; when suddenly Landin stopped crying, at that moment Jeramy thought, 'well I may as well answer the call' simultaneously Landin looked to the sky and smilled then began cooing. In my heart I truely believe that Dave once again made sure that he would meet Landin before going to heaven. Because that is the man Dave always was on this earth. I'm sure he's in heaven and at peace, he has positively impacted many people, He loved spending time with elderly folks and enjoyed children, he has done so much good in the short time he was with us. Thanks so much for sharing your special stories. there are so many more from others who I've had the opportunity to talk with or who have sent condolances, I'll do my best to share some of those with you. LYNN

Please accept our sympathy for your loss. Many of us worked with Dave at DMV for many years. Knowing Dave's interests and on his behalf, we are making a donation to Community Justice in Madison, from his friends in the Vehicle Records Section.