David Arnold Bohatta, age 65 of Baldwin, formerly of Roberts, passed away surrounded by family on May 22, 2015 at the University of Minnesota Fairview Hospital in Minneapolis, MN.
Dave was born on February 16, 1950 in Mauston, WI, the son of Arnold and Leona (Baerwald) Bohatta. His family moved to River Falls when he was about 10 years old. Dave took a job with Bulk Service, a fertilizer company in North St. Paul, where he worked for about 20 years. He was united in marriage to Gayle Wigen on September 18, 1971 in Watertown, SD. Their marriage was blessed with four children, Jesse, Abbie, Mandy and Gabe. They raised their family in Roberts. Dave took a job as a heavy machine operator with Tower Asphalt. He spent more than 20 years working road construction, retiring in 2009.
Dave loved anything that had to with the automobile. Since the age of 16, he was involved in car racing, spending most of that time on the local dirt tracks. Dave also enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was a member of Cross Lutheran Church, and won the “Good Neighbor Award” in 1994 for Good Neighbor Days in the village of Roberts. Above everything else, Dave loved his family, and cherished the time he spent with them. His grandchildren filled their Papa’s heart with joy, and he was proud of his “perfectly flawed family.”
Dave will remain in the hearts of his beloved wife of 43 years, Gayle; children, Jesse (Aimee), Abbie (Craig Christian), Mandy, and Gabe (Laura Dalton); grandchildren, Mason and Delaynee; Wyatt, Ruby and Emmit Christian; Alex, Brady, and one more grandchild on the way; sisters, Mary (Ray) DeBaets, Arlene (Walter) Farber, Connie Hoffmeyer, Carrie (Bill) O’Brien; sister-in-law, Doris Boerner; brother-in-law, Thomas (Cheryl) Wigen; and several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his father, Arnold Bohatta; his mother, Leona and her husband Frank Hoffmeyer; parents-in-law, Thomas and Eleanor Wigen; and brothers-in-law, Paul Hoffmeyer, Thomas Boerner, and Bill Wigen.
A Funeral Service for Dave will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 27, 2015 at the Cross Lutheran Church, 1246 County Road TT, Roberts. A visitation will be held from 4:00-8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 26 at the O’Connell Family Funeral Home, 1010 Newton Street, Baldwin, and one hour prior to the service at church on Wednesday. Interment at the Warren Cemetery in Roberts. Memorials Preferred. Everyone is encourage to wear their favorite racing apparel on Tuesday to show their care and support for Dave’s family.