David C. Stangel

Dave was born in Waukesha, WI on January 5, 1952 to Joseph B. and Julia P. Stangel.

In high school, Dave played clarinet in the marching band and in his junior year, as a member of the high school gymnastics team, was named State Champion on still rings. He graduated from Waukesha South High School in 1970.

Dave continued competing as a gymnast when he attended the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where he graduated with a B.S in biology in 1974.

In 1978, after graduating from Marquette University School of Dentistry in Milwaukee, WI, Dave moved to San Diego, CA to serve in the United States Navy as a naval dentist. After retiring from military service as a lieutenant, Dave practiced dentistry at Bonita Dental, in Bonita, CA. It was in San Diego, on October 30, 1982, that Dave married the love of his life, Patricia M. Garcia. Dave and Trish resided in the San Diego area all their married life.

Dave retired from dentistry in 2010. In retirement, Dave enjoyed playing his saxophone, gardening, traveling, and catching up with his pals from Waukesha and La Crosse.

Dave is preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Julia Stangel, brother, Gerald Stangel, and stepdaughter, Jessica Garza.

He is survived by his wife, Trish Stangel, brother Lee Stangel, sister Laura Stangel Schmidt, stepson Jesus Roberto Garza, four grandchildren, and one great grandchild, as well as two brothers-in-law: Coco Garcia and Kurt Schmidt, four sisters-in-law: Claudia Garcia, Georgina Garcia, Ana Grobe, and Lupita Anderson, and several nieces and nephews.

A second memorial service followed by burial will take place at Prairie Home Cemetery in Waukesha, WI.