David Allen Rand, 70, of Shawano, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014, at his home. Born on Oct. 16, 1943, in Chicago, he was the son of the late Milton and Pearl (Ledger) Rand.
In 1947 his family moved back to the Chili area in Clark County. David grew up on a farm with many brothers and sisters. He was a part of the last generation to attend one-room country schools. After graduating in 1961, he traveled about 6,000 miles by motorcycle to Texas and California. David joined the Army in 1962 and was later sent to Japan, where he worked in the Army Security Agency for 27 months. In Japan, he met Kazuko, who later became his wife. They were married Sept. 25, 1965. Upon returning to the U.S., David worked for a year at General Motors in Janesville before enrolling at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, then transferring to UW-Stevens Point, where he majored in natural resource management, history and secondary education. He then got his master’s degree from UW-SP in broadfield social studies. While at UW-SP he was a founding member of Veterans for Peace.
In 1971, David and Kazuko moved to Shawano, where he eventually started a 25-year teaching career at the Menominee Indian School District. David’s activities included camping, canoe building, traveling, backpacking, pottery, running, photography, practicing and teaching karate. He was also involved in the Shawano Old Time Music and Crafts Festival for 20 years and helped organize Miles of Art-Shawano County.
David is survived by his wife of 48 years, Kazuko; children, Patricia (Bob) Hedrick and Doug Rand; and siblings, Howard (Carol) Rand, Mark (Diane) Rand, Terry (Sharon) Rand, Marilyn (Johnny) Scott, Eugene Rand, Elizabeth (Randy) Ramker; sister-in-law, Becky Rand; and nieces and nephews.
David was preceded in death by his parents, Milton and Pearl; sisters, MaryAnn and Stella; brother, Gary; and niece, Tanya.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, March 3, 2014, at St. Francis Solanus Catholic Church in Gresham with the Rev. David McElroy, O. Praem, officiating. Visitation will be held at the Swedberg Funeral Home in Shawano on Sunday from 4-7 p.m. and at the church on Monday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations for Miles of Art-Shawano County would be greatly appreciated.