David “Dave” George Carden, 95, formerly of Park Falls

David “Dave” George Carden, age 95, of Rhinelander, formerly of Park Falls, passed away peacefully on Monday March 16, 2025, at Milestone Senior Living in Rhinelander, with his daughter at his side.  He was born on February 5, 1930, in Park Falls, the son of Ralph and Hazel (Newman) Carden.  His early life and schooling were in Park Falls.  In 1948 he entered the United States Army serving in Germany until 1952, where he met his wife, Erika.  On April 5, 1952, he married Erika Hard and they were married for 68 years. 

Dave returned to Park Falls after serving his country.  He and Erika moved to Ashland where he attended and graduated from Northland College earning a Conservation/Forestry degree. 

Dave and Erika had two children.  A son, Ralph, and daughter Karen.  Dave, however, nicknamed Ralph “RP” and Karen “Muffet” and that is how he lovingly referred to them throughout his life.  Dave and Erika moved to Tomahawk for nine years and to Rhinelander for five years before returning to Park Falls in 1972. 

Dave worked for the Park Falls State Bank where he was the Executive Vice President.  He left the banking business and returned to his love and passion of selling cars at Wheel Way of Fifield before retiring at the age of 80.

Dave and Erika were also antique dealers and members of the Wisconsin Antique Dealers Association. 

Dave was an avid sportsman and made trips to Canada moose hunting and made several trips to Wyoming to hunt mule deer and antelope.  Dave was also an avid fisherman and enjoyed his many fishing adventures with Ralph and Karen and his grandchildren.

Dave moved to Rhinelander in 2021 where he and Karen would become “roommates” until 2023 when he went to live at the Milestone Senior Living Center in Rhinelander.  Dave truly enjoyed his life at Milestone and met many new friends there.  He was referred to as “Papa Dave” by the staff and he thought of them as his extended bonus family.

Dave joined the Lions Club in Rhinelander in 1967 and was an active member in the Park Falls Lions Club, having been a member for over 50 years.  He also received his lifetime member award.  Dave was also a member of the Park Falls American Legion Post.

Dave is survived by his son Ralph of Weston, his daughter Karen Brown of Rhinelander, (4)grandchildren: Steve (Tami) Carden of Rothschild, Emily (Ying Her) Carden of Madison, Matt (Jen Terzinski) Pritzl of Boulder Junction, and Drew (Kristin Cibulka) Pritzl of Rhinelander, his great-grandchildren: Brodie and Aubree, his sister Donna “Dolly” Scharp of Park Falls, his former son-in-law Randy Pritzl of Fifield, and nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.  He was preceded in death by his wife Erika by, his parents, his brother Duane “Dewey” Carden, his son-in-law Thomas Brown, and daughter-in-law BJ Carden.

Funeral services will be held at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Park Falls on Saturday March 22, 2025, at 11:00am.  Rev. Emerson Coy will officiate.

Burial will follow at Forest Home Cemetery in Fifield with military honors under the auspices of the Park Falls American Legion.

A visitation will be held at the church on Saturday from 10:00am until the hour of the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Park Falls Lions Club or the Oneida County Humane Society would be greatly appreciated.

Birch Street Funeral Service is assisting the family.