David C. Polashek, 70, Oconto Falls, died suddenly of natural causes Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018, at a second residence in Hartford, Connecticut. He was the oldest son born to Gerald E. and Rosaline L. (Trubl) Polashek on Jan. 20, 1948, in Grand Island, Nebraska. The family moved to Protivin, Iowa, where David attended Rudolphinum School, graduating in 1966. He attended the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), where he earned a degree in secondary education in political science. On Aug. 10, 1968, he married Susan E. Pedersen, and they had four children together, Angela, Timothy, Matthew, and Nicholas. They divorced in 2004. David married Kim T. Davis on July 18, 2015, and gained two stepchildren, Jessica and Christopher. David spent the last few years before his death traveling between homes in Wisconsin and Connecticut.
After graduating from UNI in 1970, David taught middle school and coached at the Windom, Minnesota, school district and at Peet Junior High School in Cedar Falls, Iowa. While teaching middle school, he earned a master’s degree in Educational Administration from UNI in 1978. In August 1978, David was hired as the school superintendent in Wauzeka and served at Wauzeka Public Schools until 1993. He then accepted a position as the superintendent for the Oconto Falls School District and served until retiring in 2015. Throughout his work career, David served in a variety of professional and community positions. He served in the Lions Club, chamber of commerce, Friends of the Library and was active in state-level educational organizations. He also wrote a weekly column for the Oconto County Times Herald, “The Path around the Falls.” After his retirement, he remained an active advocate for education in Wisconsin by remaining active in the Wisconsin Public Education Network and serving on the board of the Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools.
David is survived by his wife, Kim Davis; four children, Angela O’Connor, St. Joseph, Missouri, Timothy (Roseann) Polashek, Lexington, Kentucky, Matthew (Charity) Polashek, Nicholasville, Kentucky, and Nicholas Polashek, Golden, Colorado; seven grandchildren, Zephan and Nolan O’Connor, Amelia and Dashiell Polashek, Gerald Polashek, Mason Melendez and Alina Polashek; two stepchildren, Jessica Plaunt, Charleston, South Carolina , andChristopher (Candice) Plaunt, Shawano; his siblings, Catherine (Stephen) Berry, Eau Claire, Mary (Bill) Cummings, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Eloise (Paul) Whiffen, Tomakin, NSW, Australia, Betty Weaver, Mount Vernon, Iowa, Susie (Dan) Martinek, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Martha (Michael) Shoemaker, Norwalk, Iowa, Emil (Mary Kay) Polashek, Ames, Iowa, Caroline (Jon) Thompson, Mundelein, Illinois, Anthony (Gail) Polashek, Goldsboro, North Carolina, and Francis (Dina) Polashek, O’Fallon, Missouri; numerous nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, and cousins.
David was preceded in death by his parents, Gerald E. and Rosaline L. Polashek; two brothers, Jerry Richard and William Polashek; and daughter-in-law, Stacie Polashek.
Visitation will be held after 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, at the Oconto Falls Area Performing Arts Center with urn present, 210 N. Farm Road, Oconto Falls, followed by a memorial service at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, the David Polashek Memorial Fund has been established at any Wells Fargo Bank to further education.
Jones Funeral Service in Oconto Falls is serving the Polashek family.