David Norman Classon

David Norman Classon
January 23, 1949 - October 10, 2019

Where did we leave off? Dad had many guiding words of wisdom and some of his last were to live with “no regrets”. Giving ourselves the voice of David Norman Classon here is what he might say:
1. Family and friends come first.

Family was absolutely first for Dad. The thing is, while there are distinctions between family and friends, for Dad the lines were blurred in a way that did not evoke compromise. My father loved his parents Steve and Donna Classon and siblings, Steve and Dianne, unquestionably. The certainty of that love instilled in Dad a special place for his wife; my mother, Judy Stephan Classon; my brother, David Nathan Classon; and me (Jennifer Ruth Classon). Dad’s actions fostered a growth of love which extended to friends from his school-age until just months before he took his last breath. So much of Dad’s identity centered around the people surrounding him. If the size of circle changed, the camaraderie and commitment did not. Once upon a time Dad loved Mom’s epic theme-parties and evenings at the Lorelei. As Dad’s years added on, he may have preferred more one-on-one gatherings but he never lost the appetite for what he gained from his time with loved ones. During their unexpected last years together, Dad and Mom continued to travel to discover the newness and beauty of our world. They enjoyed that time privately equally as much as they did with any of the rest of us who came along. Family vacations in planes, trains and automobiles. Time at the Moose Lodge in Door County. Driving around the US in the Airstream. Dad’s World Tour via hitch-hike, Buick Lesabre, Goldwing, KLR, and Bread Truck introduced him to as many people as places and those whose paths he crossed held a special spot in his mind and heart forever.

2. Vince Lombardi said, “The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.” And I think this speaks well to my father’s perspective of the importance of commitment.

During college, Dad served in the Army Reserves and graduated in 1972 from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio with a BS in Business Administration. Shortly thereafter, he and Mom moved to Green Bay to be near family. Dad’s brother, Steve Classon, was here and assured Dad that it would be a good place to start a career and raise a family. Dad’s career path led him from car sales to real estate to financial consulting. He retired from Merrill Lynch in 2012 after a 27 year tenure. Dad missed very few days of work, if any. During his time outside home and work, Dad’s philanthropic spirit took him to Optimist Club, Board of Directors of the New Community Shelter, among others. I learned fairly recently about Dad’s involvement in The Monday Noon Tip Club which Dad referred to as Tips Club and endured from the 1970’s into the 1980’s. It sounds to me like this was a perfect entrance into adulthood for Dad. His Tips Club colleagues became life-long friends -- many with whom I had the honor to observe in unexpected, loving goodbyes with Dad this fall. The partners of the men in Tips Club became some of Mom’s best friends too. Dad stayed busy; connecting resources, assisting people with their livelihoods, learning and teaching and learning, discovering past times and having laughter-filled fun.

C. Integrity is what you do when no one is looking. My father’s life lessons included this one and I am certain that I am among many for whom Dad modeled this character.

A classic example of this for me comes from a conversation with Mom and Dad in my teenage years during which Dad put it simply, “All you have in life is your name.” The context was decision-making and Dad’s way of encouraging me to make the right choices was by teaching me about the control I have of my reputation. That has stuck with me. Make new friends but keep the old and the people you love will be able to count on you. Work smart and you will have more choices. The list goes on.
How did David Classon make his mark on you?

David Norman Classon is survived by his sister, Dianne (Classon) Beyer; brother-in-law, Bob Beyer; sisters-in-law, Karen (Brzezinski) Classon; Susan (Stephan) Hewitt; Linda (Stephan) Baker; daughter, Jennifer Ruth Classon; son, David Nathan Classon; daughter-in-law Mikaela (Schleis) Classon; nephews Stephen Grant Classon II and his spouse, Michelle (Nowak) Classon; Allen Hewitt and his spouse Nancy Novotny-Hewitt; Todd Baker and his spouse Tonya (Lingrel) Baker; Brad Baker; and nieces, Gretchen Classon; Kiana Weinschenk and her spouse Troy Storfjell; Katie (Weinschenk) Stubbe and her spouse Henrick Stubbe; Amanda (Baker) Staines and her spouse Steven Staines; and Macy Baker.