David S. Kenyon

David Sharp Kenyon, 92, of Oakfield, was called home to heaven on Sunday, January, 8, 2023. He died peacefully at St. Agnes Hospital while surrounded by his family.

Dave was born on March 3, 1930, in Waupaca, WI to David C. and Dorothy Kenyon. The family moved to Oakfield in 1933, and other than his years in college and the Army, he never moved away from the village he loved. He attended school in Oakfield through 9th grade and graduated from Winnebago Lutheran Academy in 1948. Dave attended Bethany Lutheran College, Mankato, MN and graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN in 1952, with a degree in Business Administration.

While at Bethany, Dave met the love of his life, Gudrun “Gudie” Annexstad. They were married at Norseland Lutheran Church on September 6, 1952. Soon after their wedding, he enlisted in the Army and served in the Counterintelligence Corps during the Korean War, spending a year in Kokura, Japan.

After serving his country, Dave and Gudie settled in Oakfield, started their family and Dave joined Kenyon Brothers Company as a cattle buyer and farm manager. After 25 years, he exited the cattle business but continued to own and cash crop the farms for another 25 years. Dave had a lifelong passion for agriculture.

Dave was very active and involved in the community. He served on the Oakfield Village Board, Park Board, Oakfield Elevator Board, Winnebago Lutheran Academy Board and was a member of the VFW. He served on the Bank of Oakfield Board from 1979 – 2008, first as a director and then as Chairman of the Board for 19 years. But closest to his heart was serving his church, St. Luke’s Lutheran. Dave shared his time, talents and treasures in service to his Lord on countless boards and committees, including Church President, and participated in Bible study and choir.

Dave was a man of many interests. He was interested in everything and everyone! He had a fervent love of music and could not only tell you which symphony you were listening to, but the composer and a little background information as well. He had a beautiful voice and sang in the church choir at St. Luke’s his entire adult life and the Joyful Witness Chorale for almost 40 years. He and Gudie were longtime season ticketholders for the Milwaukee Symphony and enjoyed attending Fond du Lac Community Theater and concert series. They loved to travel and took many trips around the country and the world.

Above all, Dave possessed an incredibly extensive field of knowledge. He had a remarkable knack of being able to simplify a subject to help you understand. He could explain economics to a fifth grader or aptly discuss it with a college professor. He was an avid reader and loved architecture, history, farming, art and discussing politics. Though he seemed to know something about everything, he was always humbled and more amazed by what he didn’t know than by what he did. He never stopped learning. He was quietly generous to many charitable organizations with a moral character ruled by “is that what God would have me do?” He loved any occasion to spend time with his family and was blessed this past year with the birth of 3 new great grandchildren within 3 weeks.

Dave and Gudie were blessed with 63 years of marriage and Dave lovingly served as her caregiver and best friend until her passing in 2015. He is survived by his children, David (Betsy) Kenyon, Elm Grove, WI, Tom Kenyon, Eau Claire, WI and Carol (Todd) Dekker, Sheboygan, WI. He had 8 grandchildren, Kirsten (Justin) Nichols, David (Kippy) Kenyon, Allison (Bradley) Kruse, Ian (Briana) Kenyon, Anna (Nate) Whipple, John (Annie) Dekker, Hannah Dekker and Sam (Olivia) Dekker, and 11 great grandchildren, Gudrun, Sigrid, Azalea, Sydney, Gustav, Grace, Phillip, Christian, Harlan, Madison and Ebbe. He is further survived by his sister-in-law, Lois Annexstad, brother-in-law, Glenn (Hope) Annexstad; and nephews, Paul (Karin) Rosenfeldt and John (Cathy) Rosenfeldt and other relatives.

In addition to his wife, Dave was preceded in death by his parents, his in-laws, Gustav and Olga Annexstad, his brother, John Kenyon and sister and brother-in-law, Marie and William Rosenfeldt, sisters-in-law, Clara (Emmett) Norrell and Borghild Annexstad, and brothers-in-law, Maurice Annexstad and Carl Annexstad.

The family will receive visitors at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, Oakfield, on Saturday, January 14, 2023 from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 1:30 p.m., with Rev. Matthew Schwartz officiating. Burial will follow in Avoca Cemetery. Memorials in Dave’s name may be directed to St. Luke’s Ev. Lutheran Church, Winnebago Lutheran Academy or the Oakfield Recreation Association.

The family extends a special thank you to the staff at SSM Health, especially Dr. Kumar, for their care and compassion given to Dave and his family over the past weeks.

Services are in the care of Uecker-Witt Funeral Home, 524 North Park Avenue, Fond du Lac, WI, 54935. Additional information and guestbook can be found at ueckerwitt.com