David George Cochrane passed away August 25, 2022 at home with his loving wife.
David was born in Chicago, IL on December 27, 1931 to the Reverend John and Elizabeth Boyd Cochrane, Irish emigrants. The family lived in Oak Park, Maywood, Braidwood, and Rock Island in Illinois, then moved to Westfield, WI in 1945. David graduated from Westfield High School in 1950 and Ripon College in 1954, which included 4 years of ROTC. David worked long hours at canning factories (Markesan, Brandon, Blair, and Sun Prairie) the eight summers of high school and college. He married Patricia Underkofler in 1955 while serving as a 1st Lt in the 4th Infantry Division in Germany from 1954-1956. He worked doing basic research at Kurth Malting Company in Milwaukee while attending Marquette Dental School and graduated with a Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1960.
Patricia and David had three daughters, Marguerite (Stevens), Cathleen (Louvis) and Lisa Cochrane. They moved to Sun Prairie, WI where David practiced dentistry for 27 years. During that time David was an active member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and loved singing in the choir. He was a member of the Sun Prairie Rotary Club for 25 years. He also was the first president of the Sun Prairie YMCA and a board member of the Dane County metropolitan YMCA. He and another DDS initiated a program to establish dental care for migrant children in the Wild Rose, WI area under the auspices of the HHS Dept of the State of WI and the Diocese of Green Bay. This was the impetus for La Clinica Dental Clinic now in Wautoma, WI.
David married his love, Carole Meyer, in August 1984 in Springfield, MO. They have three children, Gregory (Laura) Cochrane, Meghan (Paul) Schliepp, and Jonathan (Sarah) Cochrane. David sold his Sun Prairie practice in 1987 and with Carole and his young family did volunteer dentistry for 3 months each at the Tohono O’odham (Papago) and also the Salish/Kootenai (Flathead) Native American reservations in Arizona and Montana, respectively. David always stated those were the best winters of his life. He enjoyed taking care of any and all patients regardless of ability to pay. In 1989 they settled permanently on Gilbert Lake in Wild Rose, WI building a home and raising their family. He worked part time, including at La Clinica in the Wild Rose area, before working full time for 19 years at Dental Associates in Appleton, WI. He retired from dentistry at age 79 in 2011.
David loved music, hunting, fishing, traveling, hiking, biking, and sports. Downhill skiing became a special passion, especially in Aspen, CO and Big Sky, MT. He was always cutting and splitting wood to make a warm home. He enjoyed his family and their times together at Gilbert Lake. Most important to David was cheering on all of his children in their musical, academic, and athletic pursuits. He was a ‘first in the bleachers’ father and supporter.
He was preceded in death by two-year-old sister Marguerite, his parents, brothers John (Bernette) and James (Joanne), his first wife Patricia, an infant granddaughter Mattaeh, and many friends. He is survived by his wife Carole, his 6 children, 10 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, and many loving in-laws, nieces, and nephews.
It was David’s wish that any memorial tributes be made in the form of charitable donations to Shriner’s Hospitals for Children, Wounded Warriors, and the music department at Ripon College.
Private services will be held to honor a life so rich, full, and well-lived. The Holly Funeral Home of Waupaca is assisting the family with arrangements.