David A Kannel
David Arnold Kannel was born on September 24, 1942 to Earl and Rosella (Gilles) Kannel on the family farm on East Hill above Plum City, Wisconsin. Dave was the fifth of eight children. He attended St. John’s Catholic school and Plum City High School, graduating in 1960.
Dave married Phyllis Marie Komro on November 16, 1963 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Lima, WI. David and Phyllis remain devoted to each other through 61 years of marriage. Together they had three children who died at or shortly after birth, followed by six healthy babies. David liked to joke that he had three and a half dozen children.
Dave was drafted into the Army for the Vietnam War. In exchange for committing to a third year of service, the Army trained Dave in electronics repair. Subsequently, he was assigned to maintain communications equipment on a base far from the fighting. We are forever grateful that Dave returned home while many who served did not.
After the war, Dave turned that electronics training into a career with 3M maintaining and repairing office machines (copiers, microfilm, and fax machines) and eventually laptop computers. Dave continued to learn how machines worked and found satisfaction in his work over his 30+ years with 3M.
Home life and church life were the cornerstones of his life beyond work. He was a dedicated father who taught his children the value of good humor and jokes. The value of work. The value of kindness and generosity.
These core values were seen not only within the home but in his volunteer roles throughout his life. His volunteer roles included calling bingo for the Knights of Columbus, serving on the board of the Catholic school his children attended, counting donations to his parish, serving as a Eucharistic minister and helping with the Knights of Columbus fundraising.
David had many hobbies and interests in his life including bowling, tennis, and then golf. Although a resident of Minnesota for much of his adult life, Dave remained an ardent fan of the Green Bay Packers.
Dave was preceded in death by his parents, sister Virginia and brother-in-law Bill Webb, brothers Steven, Donald, Marvin, and Kenneth and his wife Constance, and three of his children (each born prematurely) Rose Marie, David Jr., and Christina.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Phyllis, and six of their children: Linda (John) Barbian, Michael Kannel, Kathleen (Mike) Gangnon, Jeff (Naomi) Kannel, Gary Kannel, and Tim Kannel, as well as nine grandchildren: Ashe Barbian, Amanda (Josh) Barbian-Happel, Phillip Barbian, Jacob Gangnon, Rosalee Kaufmann, Elizabeth Kannel, Peter Kannel, James Kannel, and Andrew Kannel. He is also survived by brother Edward (Marge) Kannel, sister Mary Ellen (Dale) Nevalainen, and sisters-in-law Jean Kannel and Del Jane Kannel.
Funeral Mass will be 11:00AM Saturday, June 21, 2025 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Plum City with Rev. Junabe V Villapaz officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held from 10:00AM until the time of services at the church on Saturday. A Celebration of Life will be held immediately following at Molly’s on Main in Plum City.
Rhiel Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Durand, is serving the family.