Dana Walk devoted himself to family, time on the water
“Dana was a good husband to his wife, a good father and a good friend to a lot of people in the Pewaukee area.”
That’s how Dana Walk’s friend Tom Koepp remembered him after he was killed in the shootings at Molson Coors.
“It’s heartbreaking to everybody around the Pewaukee area,” said Koepp, who was Walk’s friend for about 10 years.
Whenever Walk had the opportunity, he was out fishing and enjoying Pewaukee Lake with friends and family. Walk, 57, of the town of Delafield, was a 1981 graduate of Kettle Moraine High School.
In his death notice on the Krause Funeral Home website, his family remembered him as an avid fisherman who enjoyed spending time on the lake with friends and family.
“He was always listening to his music while working on his hobbies, home projects, and anything he could do to help others,” the death notice reads. “His family will miss Dana’s backseat coaching of the Packers to another Super Bowl.”
A family friend created a GoFundMe page, Walking With the Walks, for Walk’s funeral expenses. As of March 3, it had raised $13,847 of its $17,000 goal.
Walk was a member of the Pewaukee chapter of Walleyes For Tomorrow, a nonprofit organization that helps improve the fisheries on Pewaukee Lake.
Koepp said Walk’s father, Leo, owns Walk’s Island on Pewaukee Lake.
“He really spent all his free time, any minute he could, on the lake fishing,” Koepp said of Walk.
Paul Kozlowski, the chief of the town of Delafield Fire Department, graduated with Walk from KMHS.
“Dana was very focused on his family,” Kozlowski said. “He was a very loving husband and father and a great son to his parents. He enjoyed times with his siblings and enjoyed being out on the water.”
Walk also loved to go ice boating and even built his own boat.
“He built some beautiful boats,” Kozlowski said.
On Feb. 27, the Kettle Moraine School
District sent an email saying it was deeply saddened by the senseless violence and lives lost at Molson Coors.
“We are especially distraught knowing one of our Lasers, and neighbor in Delafield, has been named as one of the victims,” the district stated. “Dana and his wife Dorinda proudly saw their girls Michelle and Melanie graduate from KMHS in 2012. Our hearts are heavy, but we stand ready to assist Dana’s family however we can.”
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) said Walk was a nearly 16-year member of Machinists Local 66 in Milwaukee.
“An avid fisherman, he was a devout Journeyman and a devoted father and husband,” an IAM news release stated. “We extend our deepest condolences to the Walk family. We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the other four victims. And we continue to keep the members of IAM Local 66, IAM Local 510, our fellow union brothers and sisters and all those impacted by this senseless act in our prayers.”
Walk met his wife Dori (nee Denz) in high school and the two were married for 35 years. He was the father of Andy, Melanie and Michelle (James). His parents were Leo and June Walk. Walk’s brothers were Dan (Karen) and Duane.
A gathering took place March 5 at St. Anthony on the Lake Catholic Church, Pewaukee. An additional gathering took place at the church March 6, followed by a Mass of Christian burial.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the charity of your choice.