David Michael Fenske

David Michael Fenske, age 75, formerly of Savanna, IL, passed away Wednesday, January 3, 2024 at North Aurora Care Center. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 at Law Jones Funeral Home, in Savanna. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery, in Savanna. Family and friends are invited to share in David’s life at lawjonesfuneralhome.com.

David was born March 4, 1948 in Winona, MN, the son of Gerald and Katherine (O’Tasek) Fenske, Sr. His parents moved their family to Savanna in the early 1950’s, where he attended St. John’s Catholic School as a boy and graduated from Savanna High School with the class of 1966. David would then serve in the United States Army during the Vietnam War, from 1968 to 1970.

David was a kind and gentle man who was nicknamed “Smiley” because of his cheerful demeanor. He was also a very humble man, a quality he certainly inherited from his mother and grandmother. David carried a lot of faith with him throughout his life, always caring for the well-being of others. One close to David, described him simply as “a giver, not a taker.” He was an avid periodical reader, and he held meaningful friendships, some of which were lifelong. We know David would want to offer a special mention to his dear friend Duane Cook, who was a travel companion and a great source of support.

David is survived by his brother, Gerald “Jerry” (Daphne) Fenske, Jr., of Dublin, OH; nieces, Lauren (Zachary) Dziczkowski, of Dublin, OH, Caryn (John) Norton of New Canaan, CT, and Mary Fenske, Seattle, WA; great-nephews, Reid, Ryan, and Jack; and uncle, Ralph Fenske, of Winona, MN. David is preceded in death by his parents, Gerald and Katherine Fenske, Sr.