Captain David P. Schanen

Captain David P. Schanen, of Milwaukee, formerly of Waukesha, passed away on Thursday, November 13, 2014 at the age of 34. He was born in Milwaukee on May 18, 1980 the son of Paul and Christine (nee Casey) Schanen. David was a 1998 graduate of Waukesha North High School and attended St. William Catholic Church. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and continued on to receive a degree in computer science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2006. For over a decade, David worked as a computer programmer with the Cloud Research Group in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at UW-Milwaukee, helping to perfect their atmospheric modeling software. He proudly served his country in the United States Army and was currently a Captain in the U.S. Army Reserves Medical Unit based in Milwaukee. In his spare time, David enjoyed reading, studying philosophy and Kendo and gaming. David loved the outdoors, especially biking and fishing but most of all he enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. One of David’s favorite authors, Umberto Eco, once wrote, “Absence is to love as wind is to fire: it extinguishes the little flame, it fans the big.” A gentle, kind-hearted, highly intelligent and witty person, David’s absence will fan an eternal flame for all who knew and loved him.

He will be sadly missed by his parents, Paul (Olivia) Schanen of Waukesha and Christine (Patrick) Dwyer of Baraboo; his sister Lisa (John) Spady of Tenafly, NJ; his brother Mark (Jennifer Kogler) Schanen of Brookfield; his step-brother Matt (Rebecca) Dankert; his step-sister Sara (Geroge) Johnson; his nephews Oliver and Spencer Spady and step-nieces Isabel and Eva Johnson; and a large, extended family of other loving Schanen and Casey relatives.

Visitation will be held on Monday, November 17, 2014 from 4:00PM until the time of the 6:00PM funeral Mass at St. William Catholic Church, 440 N. Moreland Blvd., Waukesha, WI 53188. The Reverend Curt Frederick will preside. Graveside services with full military honors will be held at 9:45AM on Tuesday, November 18, 2014 at St. Joseph Cemetery, Waukesha. Memorials in David’s name are appreciated to the VFW Soat-Vergenz Post 721, PO Box 721, Waukesha, WI 53187-0721. Randle-Dable-Brisk Funeral Home, Crematory and Preplanning Services is honored to serve the family. For further information, please call the funeral home at 262-547-4035 or visit our website at www.waukeshafunerals.com for directions or to leave the family an online tribute message.