David G. Marquardt, 72, of St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023.
Dave was born July 10, 1951, in Benson, Minnesota, to Julius G. Marquardt and Frances (Langen) Marquardt. He grew up in Blaine, Minnesota, where he made close friends, and graduated from Spring Lake Park High School in 1969. He attended Anoka Ramsey State Junior College, earning an associate degree in 1971. With his friend Kevin, Dave joined the Spring Lake Park-Blaine Mounds View Fire Department in 1972 – the beginning of a very rewarding, honorable and enjoyable career. He married his first wife, Jeanette, and together they had two children, Niki, and Matt. In 1975, he accepted a position as a full-time firefighter for the city of St. Louis Park, Minnesota. Dave retired from the St. Louis Park Fire Department in 2003 as battalion chief.
In 1986 he married Marcia Milbrath. They lived in Columbus, Minnesota, both serving as members of the Forest Lake Fire Department. Throughout the next 15 years Dave continued “working” in a variety of additional capacities – including Anoka County, MN Water Patrol, teaching Boating and Water Safety with the Minnesota DNR, and teaching classes for Minnesota technical schools. In the early 2000s, they both retired and moved to rural Wisconsin.
Dave was truly fond of country living: the seasonal changes and their projects – planting, mowing, plowing, tractor work, caring for livestock, and sharing his love of the outdoors with his grandsons. Dave easily made friends and found rewarding ways to serve the community, such as representing his township as a board member and chief financial officer for the Cushing Fire Department.
An avid outdoorsman, Dave really enjoyed hunting, fishing, traveling with family and friends, and caring for the environment. He was happy wearing jeans, a flannel shirt and straw hat. He appreciated good food and a thick chocolate shake. Always generous, caring and kind; if you needed help, Dave was there! He was a trusted mentor and steadfast friend. Dave had a passion for everything he did. During his lifetime, he was ambitious and skilled as a firefighter, officer, lifelong student, teacher, farmer and problem-solver. Most importantly, he was a wonderful son, brother, father, grandfather and husband.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Marcia Marquardt, St. Croix Falls; daughter, Niki Spencer (Brian), St. Louis Park; son, Matt Marquardt (Rachel), St. Bonifacius, Minnesota; brother, Douglas Marquardt, Blaine, Minnesota; grandsons, Quinlan Spencer and Finnian Spencer, St. Louis Park; and Jackson Marquardt and Shaemus Marquardt, St. Bonifacius; best friends Kevin Vito, Blaine, and Marc Booth, St. Croix Falls, … and many other relatives and friends.
Celebration of Life for Dave will be held Sunday, Sept. 24, from 1-4:30 p.m. at Big Rock Creek, 1674 State Road 87, St. Croix Falls. Honors will be given during the Celebration of Life.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Cushing Fire Department and/or the Central Wisconsin Environmental Summer Camp Scholarship Program.
Arrangements are entrusted to Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home – Grantsburg, Wisconsin. Condolences may be expressed online.
