Obituaries

Madison - David William Wirka, age 84, passed away on Sunday, April 16, 2023, at Badger Prairie Health Care Center in Verona. A Mass of Christian Burial was previously held at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Madison. David was laid to rest at Resurrection Cemetery in Madison with his parents Eleanor Grace (Ryan) and Frederick James Wirka who preceded him in death. David, known better by many as Dave, is survived by his wife, Imelda (Hyland), his son, David Joseph, daughters Marie Eleanor and Helen Katherine Jane (Eric Ravnikar) Wirka, his cousin Robert Lochner, his brother-in-law, four sisters-in-law, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Dave was born on April 6, 1939 in Madison and spent most of his life there. He attended Blessed Sacrament School, Edgewood High School, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After graduating with a degree in Social Work, he began his career with the Milwaukee County Department of Social Services. He met Imelda in 1968 while visiting relatives in Ireland, and they were married in Dublin in 1971. Their three children were born in Milwaukee, and Dave liked to say he spent his best years there.

The family moved to Madison in 1985 to be near Dave’s mother, and so the children could attend both Blessed Sacrament and Edgewood High schools. Dave’s main interests in life were his Catholic faith and his family. He was an ardent churchgoer and attended daily Mass as often as possible. He volunteered in various capacities in his parishes, including St. Florian’s in Milwaukee and St. Bernard’s in Wauwatosa, Blessed Sacrament, and at St. Martin House in Madison. Dave took a keen interest in his children’s education, participation in sports, and other activities. He enthusiastically watched the news, movies, and sports on TV. He followed the Green Bay Packers, Notre Dame football, and the Wisconsin Badgers, and he loved to read the daily newspaper.

Dave developed heart problems in 2005 and later had a stroke and heart attack that led to many years in hospitals, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes. The countless prayers that were said for him and his family over the years by family, friends, and the community – particularly the members of Blessed Sacrament Parish – sustained all of them through his many difficult illnesses. In the last seven years, Dave was provided with excellent care by the staff at Badger Prairie Health Care Center, as well as by the doctors from University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics.

Dave will be missed by all those who knew him for his smile, his kindness, his sense of humor, and his caring nature. He will be remembered for the love he had for his family (and their dogs), his faith in God, and his devotion to prayer. Among his many sayings, one of his favorites was “Always keep praying.”

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made in David’s name to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. To view and sign this guestbook, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com.

Ryan Funeral Home & Cremation Services

5701 Odana Rd

608-274-3703