David Kies

David Flagg Kies, Age 80, of Verona, He passed away on July 15, 2025 at the Oak Park Place Nursing Home on Nakoma Road, Madison, WI. David as born on December 13, 1944 in Platteville, WI the son of Harry and Lucille (Flagg) Kies. He graduated from Platteville High School in 1963. He attended Vennard College in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

After college Dave went to work for American Airlines in Chicago until he was drafted into the Army in 1965.

Dave’s basic training took place in Fort Knox, KY, infantry training at Fort Polk, LA and jump school in Fort Benning, GA. From Fort Benning Dave went to Vietnam in April 1966. He was in Recon with the 173d Airborne Brigade at Bien Hoa, In January of 1967 he was hit by a claymore mine which resulted in the loss of both legs. He was medically retired from the Army after a 5 month stay at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD, in June 1967.

• An interesting fact: After Dave’s injury in Vietnam, it was reported that he was killed and as a result his name was engraved on the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC

Once Dave returned home, he went back to college at the University of Wisconsin in Platteville. After college he worked a variety of jobs; he opened a paint and wallpaper shop, went into auto sales and in 1986 he went to work at Lands’ End, Inc. as a graphic illustrator until 2007 when he retired after 21 years.

In 1971 he married and had 5 children. The marriage didn’t last but the children all grew into successful adults and he was very proud of them.

In 1998 Dave remarried and lived with his wife, Anne until his death. Dave was active in VFW Post 8216 in Middleton, WI, as a member of the American Legion, DAV and Military Order of the Purple Heart. Dave was also active in St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. He was an accomplished visual artist, passionate about food and travel and a lifelong lover of automobiles. Dave loved a dry martini especially at Lombardino’s. He liked Anne’s cooking too.

David is survived by his children Catherine (Jon) Gohl, Jessica (Brian) Noonan, David F. Kies II, Erin (Gil) Rainey, A Leslie (Levi) Holloway, along with grandchildren Mo and Charlie Rainey, Shea Noonan and Raleigh Holloway. Siblings; Sallie Parman, Marge (Gene) Carroll, Janey (Tom) Arista and 9 nieces and nephews.

David was preceded in death by his parents, his brother-in-law Phil Parman, Nephew-in-law Ken Trauger and nephew, Tim Carroll.

Funeral will be held at St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 602 Everglade Dr. Madison, WI 53717, on August 6, 2025 at 11AM, visitation prior to the service at 9:30AM.

Link for livestreams: https://www.youtube.com/@StThomasAquinasChurchMadison

Donations in lieu of flowers can be made in Dave’s name to St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Madison (602 Everglade Dr, Madison, WI 53717 608-833-2600) or http://www.npr.org or http://www.wpr.org.