Brodhead, WI — David A (Albert) Elmer, 83, of Brodhead, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, November 5th, 2025, at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Madison.
He was born on Wednesday, December 17th, 1941 (10 days after the attack on Pearl Harbor), at St. Clare Hospital in Monroe, WI. David was the only child born to the parents of Albert (Albrecht) and Phyllis Louise (Zimmerman) Elmer Jr. In 1959, he graduated from Brodhead High School and continued to help his parents on the farm.
In January of 1960, he joined the Army National Guard of Wisconsin. His Active-Duty responsibility was serving during the Berlin Crisis. Then he returned to the family farming and custom harvesting operations.
David was well-known for having a special interest in Pontiac GTOs. The GTO was often credited as one of the first muscle car manufactured. It was based on the Pontiac Tempest model and featured a powerful V8 engine option. 1964 was the first model manufactured and the car quickly gained popularity in performance and style. David actually purchased a 1964 sight unseen. His second GTO was a 1966.
Roller skating, dancing, sitting on the square in Monroe and checking out the vehicles as they went by, learning to play the electric guitar, playing with his big Lionel train set, playing euchre or other card games, reading books and collecting coins were on the top of his entertainment list. Recreational activities were both bow and rod fishing, bow and rifle deer hunting.
On August 17th, 1968 David (age 27) married Barbara Marie Hauri at Luther Valley Lutheran Church (a countryside church in Newark Township, Beloit WI). This year they celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary.
While David and Barbara Marie continued to operate a dairy cow, hog, beef cattle farming operation and custom harvesting operation David also was employed off the farm at Blackhawk Technical College (BTC) Central Campus for a few years as a 3rd shift custodian. When it was discovered that David could also drive a larger truck, his winter duties were expanded to snow plowing the campus parking lot.
Dave’s dad was well-known for being one of the first in the area to do custom harvesting: corn picking, silage chopping, corn shelling and drying. Running the UNI chopper and combine system was Albert’s forte. David became a Gleaner Combine owner as he took over the custom harvesting business. Once David fulfilled his longtime dream to own his own semi-tractor (Freightliner) and step-deck trailer, he incorporated hay hauling into the scheme of things. People were amazed on how he could maneuver in and out of tight places no one else could. His CB Radio handle was Hayman.
In the quest to further his education he took welding courses and some woodworking classes at BTC. He also attended several AGC (Associated General Contractors) Construction Supervisory Training Program courses at BTC with a dear friend in the construction business.
October 20th, 1985 David became a member of the United Methodist Church in Brodhead. He was also involved in various types of volunteer work.
Very early on Saturday mornings, he would drive to Milwaukee to pick up produce for the Share Food Program to be distributed that Saturday morning. He also assisted with a number of Green County and Decatur 4-H events. The main one was helping decorate and driving a flatbed trailer every other year in the Cheese Days Parade. Because he resembled Abe Lincoln so much, one time he was Abe Lincoln in the Cheese Days Parade and children would come up to him, tug on his trench coat, and tell him that they go to his school (Lincoln School in Monroe). David would get quite a chuckle out of that.
As David eased back from actively running the farms, he spent his time transplanting trees, growing tulips, planting a quarter acre raspberry and vegetable garden, attracting birds other than sparrows to the property and
watching others operate the cropland. He also took great pride in maintaining the lawn and roadside by regularly pulling and controlling the yellow rocket, weeds and picking up roadside trash. He mowed the lawn with a John Deere Garden tractor and removed the snow away from the buildings for easier access with his favorite toy the Bobcat Toolcat with both AC and heat.
In later years after a grandson (Max) was born, David enjoyed playing mini golf and different types of card games with him. He also enjoyed watching Harry Potter movies with his family, listening to country music on WJVL 99.9 radio station, and watching TV programs such as the Wheel of Fortune and many other game shows, Dancing with the Stars, Tracker and crime shows such as Blue Bloods, FBI and NCIS. Most of all, recently he very much enjoyed attending and watching his grandson’s figure skating performances and hockey events.
David had 3 special memorable family and friends travel events in the very recent last few years. One was a 4th of July holiday trip to La Crosse WI for a stay and a houseboat ride up and down the Mississippi River looking for eagles with some special far away friends. Another was a few days stay at the Wisconsin Dells to have some quality time with family. And the third was a Lake Geneva WI mailboat ride, also a fun time experience with family.
David is survived by his spouse, Barbara Marie (Hauri) Elmer of Brodhead WI; his children Brian David (Laura Kaye Jerney Franzen-Elmer) Elmer of Madison WI and DeAnn Marie Elmer of Cincinnati OH. He is also survived by one grandson, Maxwell Brian Jerney Elmer and one granddaughter, Zoey Rose Jerney Franzen.
He was preceded in death by his mother (1995); father (2010); mother-in-law Barbara Fyetta (Hoffman) Hauri (2011); and father-in-law Cecil Hauri (2014); other extended family members and many dear friends.
A special thank you to all the amazing VA and UW healthcare providers who cared for David over the past 10 years of facing multiple aggressive cancers back-to-back, giving him more time with those he loved and those who loved him.
Visitation will be at the United Methodist Church of Brodhead (501 1st Center Avenue) on Wednesday, December 17th from 10 AM-Noon. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at noon.