David W. Semler, 79, of the Milwaukee area, passed away peacefully in hospice care on June 26, 2026.
David was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 40 years, Dr. Bonnie Behee-Semler; his son, Joshua Semler; his father, Dr. William L. Semler; his mother, Ellen P. Semler; and his brother-in-law, Michael Joyce. He is survived by his sons, Aaron, and Zachary (Suzanne); his stepchildren, Cathy (Andy) and Bob (Mary); his sisters, Barbara (Marko) Bosnjak and Karen Joyce; grandchildren and great-grandchildren; as well as nieces, nephews, and cousins.
David spent much of his life pursuing the interests that mattered most to him. He was an avid reader and particularly enjoyed the works of James Michener, Kinky Friedman, and Tim Dorsey. Books were a constant source of entertainment throughout his life.
He was also a skilled home cook who enjoyed preparing meals and trying new recipes. Whether reading, cooking, or following current events, David liked keeping his mind occupied.
A lifelong racing fan, David’s connection to Road America began in childhood. His father, Dr. William Semler, served as a physician at the track, and David grew up attending races there. He remained a dedicated motorsports enthusiast throughout his life, spending many weekends at Road America with his longtime “Turn 6 friends” and following auto racing from home.
David was a loyal Milwaukee Brewers fan and rarely missed a game on television. He enjoyed discussing sports, racing, books, and his longtime passion for model trains.
Travel and music were also important parts of David’s life. In 2017, he and Bonnie enjoyed a memorable trip to Scotland, one of the highlights of their years together. Bonnie Behee-Semler was a super fan of Rod Stewart, and David accompanied her on trips to concerts and fan club events, creating many enjoyable memories along the way. Together they also attended and were major fans of Joe Bonamassa “Keeping the Blues Alive” cruises and Tim Dorsey cruises.
David also maintained lifelong interests that reflected his curiosity and sense of humor. He collected dinosaur memorabilia and kept a large dinosaur figure, Lizzie, in his room in his final years. He enjoyed birds, especially parrots and cockatiels, and appreciated their intelligence and personality.
Those who knew David will remember his enthusiasm for racing, books, baseball, music, cooking, birds, dinosaurs, and model trains. These many interests remained important to him throughout his life and connected him with others throughout the years.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Scottish Festivals, Inc., supporting the Milwaukee Highland Games and the preservation of Scottish heritage, honoring Bonnie’s longtime involvement in Scottish dancing and one of the highlights of David and Bonnie’s years together—their memorable trip to Scotland.
Private services will be held by the family.
The Reinbold-Novak Funeral Home and Crematory is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed at www.reinboldfh.com
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