With grateful and heavy hearts, we share that David John Simenz, 87, passed away on October 1, 2026. Less than a year after saying goodbye to Judy, the love of his life, he is with her again.
Dave was a gentle man, loyal, patient, and kind. He was hardworking but always present, showing up for the people he loved and living selflessly to ensure his family had the life he wanted for them. Full of life and always grateful, he saw the good in everything. He was witty, had a wonderful sense of humor, was an excellent storyteller, and was an even better listener.
Dave was born on March 13, 1939, and raised in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, the son of John and Anne “Pat” Juvan Simenz. He was very proud of his Slovenian heritage. At Central High School, he starred in football and basketball and once held the Fox River Valley Conference single-game rushing record with 163 yards. As a teenager, he also worked at his parents’ two businesses, their tavern and Johnny’s Supper Club. When he asked his mother who would tend bar at Johnny’s, she told him, “You are.” So he did, willingly and without complaint, the same way he approached work his whole life.
On May 16, 1958, at a YMCA dance, Dave asked Judy Goodell if he could drive her home. He went on to Northern Michigan University on a football scholarship and dedicated himself to becoming a teacher. For two years, he hitchhiked five hours home every other weekend to see Judy. They married on September 1, 1962, at St. Luke’s Methodist Church. For the next 63 years, he was a devoted husband, and together they were true partners in raising their boys and building a beautiful life.
Dave spent his entire teaching career in the Howards Grove School District, where he began teaching physical education in 1963. As a dedicated high school head football coach, he led the team on a 19-game unbeaten streak and a perfect 1966 season, and he later coached at Lakeland College. He also founded the Howards Grove Education Association. Outside the classroom, he was a business owner as well, partnering in the Pizza Barn, running Simenz Realty, and owning the Fond du Lac Mobile Home Park.
Dave was a proud dad to Chip and Brad. He gave up his own coaching career to coach them, and he cheered them on in everything they pursued, from athletics to their careers. Nothing made him prouder than the men they became. He cherished his relationships with his daughters-in-law, Leslie and Becca, and loved the families they built, including his five grandchildren.
Being Grandpa was his greatest joy. He was active and always there, from Wednesdays together and games in the basement to the bleachers, the auditorium, and every big day in between. Whenever he knew he would see one of his grandchildren, he showed up wearing gear from their college, with a smile on his face and plenty of genuine questions about their lives. He was their biggest fan and the rock of the entire Simenz family.
Sheepshead was his game, and few things made him happier than a table full of friends and a deck of cards. He also loved bridge, the outdoors, his friends at Elks Lodge 299, and the many years he and Judy spent at their condo in Sister Bay, where a bench now stands in their honor. At home, he enjoyed hosting friends and family, stirring up his famous Dave’s Old Fashioneds, watching a good movie, reading the paper, listening to music, and sitting down to a great meal.
Dave was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Judith Lynn Simenz, his parents, John and Anne “Pat” Simenz, and his sister-in-law Sandra Renzelmann. He is survived by his sons, David “Chip” (Leslie) Simenz and Bradley (Rebecca) Simenz. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Julia (Nicholas) Snow, Dayton, Audrey, Paige, and Grace Simenz, and by his siblings, Rodney (Audrey) Simenz, Joni Minier,
Mary (Paul) LeGrice, Kathy (Mark) Zovic, Barbara (Brian) Lilyquist, and Craig (Eileen) Simenz. He also leaves behind his sister-in-law, Nancy (John) LaBouve, and Mark O’Brien, his “honorary son,” along with many nieces, nephews, and dear friends.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, November 28, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. at Town & Country Club, W1943 County Road J, Sheboygan. All who knew and loved Dave are welcome.
In lieu of flowers, please honor Dave by helping a local family in need this holiday season. He loved giving back, especially during the holidays, and there would be no more fitting way to celebrate his life.
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