The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Obituaries

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August 16, 2012

David M. Balke

—   David M. Balke, age 69 of Mankato, died on Tuesday, August 14, 2012 at the Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato.

  The Balke family will greet friends on Saturday, August 18th from 2 to 5 P.M. at Arnoldt-McRaith Funeral Home & Crematory in Janesville, Minnesota.

  David spent the early part of this life in and around Edgerton, WI. He participated in sports, music and theater throughout high school.  David attended the University of Wisconsin at River Falls and soon after took his first position with 3M in New Hampshire. He later moved to southern Minnesota to work as a pharmaceutical sales rep. He settled in Pemberton to raise a family. He also developed a love for golf, fishing, politics and watching his two sons, David and Derek in all their school activities.

  Later, he put his many talents to work in computers by sharing his emails and his love of music, movies and jokes to many who asked, and his humor was second to none, as his moniker suggests: King David.  Also, he kept up his love of singing by participating with the RiverBlenders, Mankato's Barbershop chorus.  Dave was an excellent cook and liked nothing better than making a great meal on a Sunday, and sitting down to watch his beloved Green Bay Packers.

  He is survived in death by his wife Sidonia (Sweeney) Balke of Mankato, two sons David (Jill) Balke of Des Moines, IA and Derek (Sarah Nagel) Balke of Milwaukee, WI, Siblings. Lelu Tyrrell of Nekoosa, WI,  Steven Anderson (Sandy) of Austin, TX, Joanne O'Meara of Madison,WI, Dianne Punzel of Milton, WI, Linda Ewers (Clyde) of Sparta,WI, and grandchildren Maxwell, Alexander and Brandon Balke and many other friends and relatives.  

  He was preceded in death by his father, Richard Balke; by his step-father and mother, Wilmer and Eleanor (Nassett) Anderson.

  For online condolences go to

www.mcraithfuneralhome.com

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