David Thomas Prosser

David Thomas Prosser, Jr., age 81, of Appleton and Madison, WI, passed away on December 1, 2024 at Rennes Health Care following a brief battle with cancer.

David was born on December 24, 1942 in Chicago, IL to parents David Thomas Prosser Sr. and Elizabeth (Patterson) Prosser. David spent much of his early childhood in Chicago before moving with his family to Appleton at the age of 7. When David was 13, brother Hugh arrived and David became the consummate big brother who absorbed all the brotherly pestering and adoration from his baby brother.

Upon graduating from Appleton High School, David moved on to DePauw University where he received his BA in Political Science. He furthered his education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School where he proudly received his JD in 1968.

After graduating, David was a law lecturer and instructor at Indiana University-Indianapolis Law School, as well as at the University of Wisconsin Law School. State and national politics soon became a passion for Dave and he gratefully and dutifully served as administrative assistant to U.S. Representative Harold Froehlich. After that tenure came to a close, David returned to Wisconsin to practice private law. He was soon elected as Outagamie County District Attorney.

He then ran for and successfully served as a state Assemblyman representing Appleton for 18 years. During this accomplished time, he served as the Minority Leader and ultimately the Speaker of the Assembly.

It was also during this time that David passionately advocated forfunding to build a new stadium for the Milwaukee Brewers. His impassioned final hour speech was crucial in getting legislation passed that kept the Brewers in Wisconsin.

In 1998, Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson appointed Dave to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. This was a true honor and a position that he greatly revered. He held this position and served the State of Wisconsin with integrity for 18 years. Dave was reliably conservative, but also fiercely independent. He loved the law and the legislative process. He was a forward-thinking Justice who often asked of himself and his colleagues, “What will this law look like?” five years from now and in the distant future. True to David's deep kindness for those who needed help, he provided countless days of quiet pro-bono work for people who had nowhere else to turn.

In his time serving the state, Madison became a true home to him, and he truly loved living there.

David also loved art. His passion for the arts extended especially to prints. He enjoyed travel and often would venture to remote locations for a great art venue or gallery. He was also a patron of local art museums and galleries. He found real joy in donating art pieces he had collected and found in memory of or in honor of loved ones.

David had a passion for Wisconsin sports and loved the Brewers, Bucks, Packers, and Badgers. He loved his Wisconsin “home teams.” Dave and brother Hugh shared many Bucks and Brewers games over the years.

Above all, David was a man comprised of equal parts gentleness and power. He was a man of deep thought and careful consideration. He loved his family deeply, and he stood up for the state and country he loved and believed in with everything he had. He will be greatly missed.

David is survived by his brother Hugh Prosser (Kelly), and his two nephews, Ian Prosser (Laura) and Barry Prosser (Anniken), and many great nieces and nephews. 

A memorial service to celebrate David’s life will take place on Saturday, December 14, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. at Memorial Presbyterian Church, 803 E. College Ave., Appleton. Friends may gather on Friday, December 13, from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Wichmann Funeral Home, 537 N Superior Street, and on Saturday, December 14, from 11:00 a.m. until the service begins at 1:00 p.m.