David Edwin Buser

David Edwin Buser, formerly of northern Ozaukee County, passed away peacefully at his home in Wisconsin Rapids on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, a few days short of his 80th birthday.

David was born on Oct. 11, 1946, in Port Washington to Bernie and Rita (Ott) Buser. He went to grade school in Saukville, graduated from Port Washington High School in 1964 and served in the U.S. Army Reserve.

In 1967, David married Barbara Hoffmann, settled in Fredonia and had two sons, Jeffrey and David.

While living in Fredonia, David graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The couple moved to Wisconsin Rapids in 1978 to pursue career opportunities in the paper industry. After working for several years in Wisconsin Rapids, David received his certification for public accounting and opened an accounting practice that he operated for decades until retiring and passing it on to his son.

During the early 2000s, David’s wife Barbara suffered from a progressive degenerative condition and passed away after a long battle with the disease. After retiring from public accounting, Dave bought a closed soft-serve ice cream business in Wisconsin Rapids that he succesfully reopened and operated as the much-loved Dairy Treat.

Dave remarried in December 2018. His second wife, Jane Ann Knotts, continued to operate the Dairy Treat until selling it because of health conditions. David enjoyed many things but had a particular passion for fantasy football, animals of all kinds, sheepshead games with family and friends, investments and strategy games. He at times was known to visit the local humane society, ask for the shunned cat that had been there the longest and take the little critter home with him. Ann and David had many pets, including birds, cats and dogs. He was always there to lend advice and share experiences, from which his siblings and friends greatly benefited. He will be sorely missed.

David is survived by his mother Rita Buser of Waubeka; his wife Jane Ann Buser of Wisconsin Rapids; two sons, Jeffrey of Wisconsin Rapids and David Buser of Milwaukee; stepdaughter Kate (Alex) Chaney; sister Diane Wendland (Tom Furan) of Janesville; brother Dale (Shelly) Buser of Waubeka; stepgrandchildren Sawyer, Winston, Pippa and Evelyn Chaney; nieces; nephews; many cousins; and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father Bernie Buser and his first wife Barbara Buser. A funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, at Herman-Taylor Funeral Home, Wisconsin Rapids. A visitation will begin at 2 p.m.