West Bend, Wi – Dave Bohn was granted eternal rest in the early morning hours of February 20, 2025, when the rest of West Bend was about to wake up to another day. While Dave loved building family homes, he loved people even more. When asked if he misses building, he replied he misses “making people happy.”
In his final years, nothing gave Dave more joy than someone telling him they read his stories on WashingtonCountyInsider.com. He was always astounded by the number of “likes” his stories received and loved to read the comments.
Click HERE to read Dave Bohn’s stories
It was important to him that we not forget the ways of the past and how ordinary folks in West Bend spent their time on this earth. He was grateful to Judy Steffes for publishing his writings.
The last time Dave took pen to paper was in September of 2020. He wrote: “As I look back, it’s been a full and good life the Lord gave to me. Ups and downs, yes, but that’s life itself. It’s been a great life for me while I was on this visit.”
Dave’s funeral will be livestreamed and archived on the Schmidt Funeral Home Facebook page.
On a side note, from Bonnie: I included several photos of Dave from different times in his life. His 6-year-old picture was always his favorite. Up until the end, he always talked about how he was just a poor little farm boy who had a good life.
Dave’s obituary is published below.
West Bend, Wi – David A. Bohn, a well-known builder and developer in the West Bend, WI, area, passed away at his home with his family by his side at the age of 95.
Dave was born on the family farm, just south of West Bend on December 17, 1929 to John and Irene (Thomas) Bohn.
Dave is a veteran and served in the United States Army from 1951-1953. He was stationed in Germany during the post WWII occupation where he discovered his love of travel. Upon his discharge, Dave attended the technical school in West Bend where he learned the trade of carpentry on the GI Bill. He worked for JRV Construction during his apprenticeship.
In 1955, Dave formed Bohn Construction and built 432 homes in West Bend and the surrounding area over the years. Dave also developed a number of neighborhoods in Washington County, including the Fox Ridge neighborhood near Ridge Run Park. He retired in the early 1990’s and his sons John and Greg took over the business which remains today. Dave was very proud to keep Bohn Construction going and loved visiting job sites with his yellow truck to check things out.
With several other local builders, Dave formed the West Bend Builders Association in 1972 and served several terms as its president. He was a charter member of St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church and was active in the construction of the church. He was a member of the Moose Lodge and a Third Degree member of the Knights of Columbus.
Dave married Audrey Arendt at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Port Washington on May 18, 1957. Dave loved to travel with Audrey, and especially enjoyed his many salmon fishing trips to Alaska. Upon his retirement, Dave set down his hammer and picked up his pen to write down his childhood memories which he was very proud of and enjoyed sharing. Dave credits his wife Audrey and his parents for his good life. He was a beloved father and grandfather.
Dave is survived by his wife of more then 67 years, Audrey (Arendt), as well as his children Ellen (Jon) Coutts, Lou Ann Bohn, Bonnie (Mark) Bohn Hector, Greg Bohn, John (Lisa) Bohn, Christopher (Anita) Bohn and Douglas (Simone) Bohn; seven grandchildren Ryan (Alyssa) Coutts, Erin Coutts, Joshua Bohn, Ava Bohn and Cecilia, Eric and Julian Bohn; and one great-grandchild Theodore David Coutts with another on the way. Dave is further survived by his sisters-in-law Patricia Schmidt, Maryann Bohn and Judith Hayton; his brother-in-law Frank Falter; and many nieces and nephews.
Dave is preceded in death by his infant daughter Mary, his parents John and Irene (Thomas) Bohn, his brothers Thomas and Gerald, his sister Mary Ann Falter, his in-laws Edward and Florence Arendt and his brother-in-law Richard Schmidt.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Frances Cabrini Church on Friday, February 28, 2025 at 12 noon with visitation from 10 a.m. until 11:45 a.m. Burial will follow in Holy Angels Cemetery in West Bend. In lieu of flowers memorials to the Threshold Inc., St. Frances Cabrini School or the Rev. Casper Rehrl Council 1964 Knights of Columbus are appreciated.
The Schmidt Funeral Home in West Bend is serving the family. If you would like to leave a message of comfort and condolence please visit www.schmidtfuneralhome.com
