David W. `Dave` Cole

David W. “Dave” Cole, age 85, of Fairfield Township, died on Sunday, March 9, 2025.

“Death steals everything from us but our stories.” -- Jim Harrison

Dave was fond of telling the story of a Literature class where a poem of William Carlos Williams came up for discussion and one of the students exclaimed, “I’m one of his!” For William Carlos Williams was a practicing pediatrician in addition to being a poet, and as it turned out he had been the physician in attendance at this particular student’s birth.

Dave’s own career was similar. “I’m one of his!” is something we’ve heard  our whole lives when a new acquaintance realizes he was our dad. And it’s always said with pride and enthusiasm, followed by details about which class they had with him and, often, some of the influence he had on their life.

Pretense and self-puffery were not his way. He was always “Dave,” and even when he was a tenured professor it was still always, “I’m Dave Cole and I teach English,” just as matter-of-fact and down to earth as could be.

As one of the founding “Boo U” faculty members when the University of Wisconsin opened its Baraboo branch, and as the longest serving, he was praised for “always being a force on campus….and a force for good.” He fostered creativity and camaraderie with all his colleagues making them better teachers and better people.

With a range of interests and a passion for storytelling, he never stopped learning, never stopped teaching, and never stopped loving. For him they were all part of the same process. And we will never stop loving him and
never stop missing him.

Dave’s dedication to exemplary teaching and exemplary decency spans generations, professions, venues, and lives too numerous to count.

On behalf of all the Cole Family, we thank everyone for the concern, support, calls, and messages.

God Bless David William Cole
March 16, 1939 – March 9, 2025

Much loved husband, father, professor, mentor, colleague, and friend.

Please join us as his guest one last time.

Sunday, March 30, 2025

Visitation will be held from 1-3pm.

There will be a service at 3pm.

A catered Celebration of Life will follow.

Trinity Episcopal Church and Parish Hall

111 Sixth Street

Baraboo, WI 53913