David G. Wenz

Published September 24, 2020 at 11:14 PM

Entrepreneur and builder David G. Wenz passed away peacefully with his wife Royola by his side, at his home in Port Richey, FL on Thursday, September 17, 2020. He was 76 years old.

Born on July 29, 1944 to Samuel and Edna Wenz in Algoma, WI, he went on to study mathematics, at the University of Wisconsin in Madison and later graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh. After his graduation from college, he went to work for IBM for the next 21 years as a computer programmer and architect. During his time at IBM Dave amassed more than 50 invention and patent awards earning him an Outstanding Technical Achievement Award as well as a fourth level Invention Achievement Award from IBM.

Dave along with some of his fellow IBM co-workers left the company to start ShowCase Corporation. ShowCase grew to become a leading provider of business intelligence and data warehousing solutions that were used by some of the world’s largest corporations. ShowCase employed hundreds of people across the US and throughout the World. The company went public in 1998 allowing Dave to retire.

Although Dave was a successful businessman his greatest accomplishment was helping to raise his two sons, Scott and Gregory whom he had with his first wife Joyce (Geminer). Dave also put his creative energy into building several lake cabins from scratch. A lifelong avid woodworker, he especially enjoyed building furniture out of cherrywood, and he even carved and painted decoy ducks. He also loved golfing, fishing and cheering on the Packers, traditions his sons continue to carry on.

Dave is survived by his wife Royola, whom he loved for the last 15 years, his two sons Gregory (wife Erin) and Scott, one stepdaughter Nicole, four grandchildren: Sarah, Jack, Julian, and Katrin; two step granddaughters Anastasia and Evelyn; and a sister June (husband Michael) Delwiche.

He was proceeded in death by his parents Samuel and Edna (Meyer) Wenz, sisters Donna (husband William) Wenthen, Carol (husband LaVerne) Yero, Betty (husband Roger) Swado and brother Richard (wife Jean) Wenz.

Family and friends will hold a celebration of Dave’s life next summer in Rochester, MN.