David G. "Dave" Sandmire, age 61, died on Thursday, November 21, 2024 at his home in Columbus. He was born on October 15, 1963 in Madison to Lyle LaVaughn and Sharon (Weikert) Sandmire. Dave grew up in Lodi and attended Lodi Elementary school, moved to Marshall for a few years, attended high school and then returned to Lodi to graduate in 1982. He ran in Track and played baseball and continued to play softball in league with coworkers and friends. Dave worked on a farm in Lodi with close friends of the family, Bill and Cindy Benson with their two girls that were Dave's "little sisters" Ginger and Bridget Benson, that he adored. On weekends Dave's younger brother Shawn would join them on the farm to either get in trouble or just hang out with his brother. Dave worked hard with Bill and neighboring friends milking cows, working on the farm machinery, helping with renovations around the farm and all the field work, especially during tobacco season. Later Dave went to work at Famous Fixtures in Sun Prairie, with his sister Terri, where he built commercial cabinets for many stores and companies. He made many friends and always had a joke of the day or hour to tell people. This is where he met Beth Rabuck. They were married in Sparta, WI on August 16, 1996. They made their home in DeForest, WI and later moved to Waterloo a few months after Zachary B. Sandmire was born in 1998 where they lived until 2020. Dave worked at Wisconsin Built in Deerfield for many years, then started working for Stihl Co. in Cottage Grove where he currently was employed. Dave enjoyed going and watching NASCAR and INDY car racing, in which he spent 3 years working at the Madison International Speedway on the safety crew. He followed Rusty Wallance as his favorite driver for years. Dave was able to get to the Indianapolis 500 with his brother–in-law Toad and recently with his son Zach for his 60th birthday. Dave fell in love with snowmobiling at an early age with his uncle Jerry Weikert and continued the snowmobiling sport with his family, where Dave and Zach worked together in the garage on the snowmobiles. A lover of Arctic Cat all the way! Dave enjoyed fishing, ice fishing, deer hunting with family and friends. Dave loved his sports of either going to live games or watching them on TV. If anyone around him watching on TV knew he would get so worked up and take the sports so seriously. We as his family would let him make his comments and make noises and laugh with him. His Packers were the first choice of football, second was his Raiders, Badgers, and Brewers. Dave enjoyed many years of being active in bowling and dart leagues around the area. Dave loved to plan a camping trip no matter where we went, we had a wonderful time sitting up around the fire until late hours. Dave enjoyed grilling for friends and family no matter what the weather was, 90 degrees or 10 degrees on New Years Eve he would do it. Dave got into woodworking with his sister Terri and they built several things together at work and outside of work. Especially his bar in the basement, that was top priority when we bought the house to entertain his family and friend events. Dave was a man of many talents of doing movie imitations and the best at cartoon characters, especially his Droopy and others for the nieces and nephews as they were growing up. He always had funny/not so funny jokes and his little puns put smiles on everyone's faces. There was never a dull moment with Dave around! He will be greatly missed by several people.

Survivors include his son Zachary B. Sandmire of Lake Mills; his former wife and friend Beth Sandmire of Columbus; his step-father Alvin (Norlinda) Kovars of Poynette; his three sisters Donna Gulrud of Reedsburg, Laurie (Cande) Hernandez of Waterloo and Darlene Weisensel of Scholfield; his twin brother Dale (Tiffany) Sandmire of Evansville; his brother-in-law Randy McAliley of Fall River and sister- in-law Tonya Townsend of Lodi; nieces and nephews, Rose (Tracy) Hernandez of Waterloo, Jenny Hernandez of Milwaukee, Kevin Hernandez of Waterloo, Courtney (Greg) Dahlke of Reedsburg, Clint (Katie) Kelley of Bellville, Brooke Sandmire of Wausau, Ryan (Kristen) Sandmire of Tennessee, Jennifer (Fred) of Beloit, Joey Sandmire of Fall River and Sharon Kovars of Lodi; other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his paternal and maternal grandparents, parents, sister Terri McAliley and brother Shawn Kovars.

Visitation will be from 11:00 A.M. until 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, December 14, 2024 at Jensen Funeral & Cremation, Columbus. Casual attire of Badgers, Packers or any favorite sports is encouraged. A small luncheon at Kestrel Ridge Golf Course in the lower club house will be held from 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. following the Celebration of Life.

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