David W. Salan passed away peacefully Saturday, January 14th, 2023 at the Wisconsin Veteran’s Home in King, Wisconsin.
David was born in Staten Island, New York City and raised in Waupaca by his loving parents, Dr. Sam and Isabel Salan. David graduated from Waupaca High School and then attended UW-Madison to earn his Bachelor of Arts Degree in English in 1955. David then served as an Army Stenographer in the Korean War from 1955 through 1957. Upon his discharge, he served another six years in the Army Reserves and during this time completed his Master’s Degree at Medill School of Journalism – Northwestern University in 1959.
Early in David’s career he lived in Silver Spring, Maryland and then in Chicago, Illinois. He refined his skills in Public Relations throughout his career whether it was developing promotional materials or speechwriting, fundraising, coordinating benefits for the arts and theaters and writing press kits.
David returned to Waupaca in the late 1970’s and he resumed supporting his love of the theatre, literature, travel, fine dining and the arts. He worked as a free-lance journalist and helped support and promote the Waupaca Community Theater. As his friend Donna Rickel stated “He got them through the door.” David’s friend Linda Cross describes him as the “Quintessential people person as a Journalist” because David always wanted to know whom, what, where, when and how.
Around the age of 40, David began to lose his eyesight to Glaucoma. Despite this, David lived life to its fullest. His love of literature, travel, life and his dear friends were his greatest treasures in life.
David is survived by his brother Dr. Jerry Salan, Niece; Suzanne (Joseph) Udoni, Sarabeth (Bret) Stielow, Samantha (James) Clark, his nephew Scott (Stacy Jo) Salan and his dear cousins Leslie & Frankie Geer of Snohomish, WA and Janet Taber of Waupaca. David was proceeded in death by his parents, his baby brother Sidney and his beloved sister-in-law, Nancy B. Salan.
The Salan Family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Linda Cross, Jackie Replogle, Betty Hill and Mike Kothbauer for their years of friendship.
A private family service and burial at the Wisconsin Veterans Home in King will be held in Spring.
The Holly Funeral Home of Waupaca is assisting the family with arrangements.