Obituary of David Ralph Quade

David R. Quade passed away peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, August 21, 2024. Though challenged with numerous health issues over his 82 years with us, Dave never backed down and fought through them to the very end. We are grateful for the additional years his tenacity provided us. His family will remember him as a loving husband, father, grandfather, and uncle. All will remember him as a friend.  

Dave was born in Chicago on November 16th, 1941 and remained there through high school and City College of Chicago before transferring to Bradley University. There he swam on the swim team and obtained his Bachelor’s degree in 1964. He returned to Chicago to complete his law degree at John Marshall Law School and passed the Illinois Bar exam both in 1968. He practiced law for over 40 years and retained an A+ rating by his peers on Martindale. During this time he also volunteered on various boards at the VA Hospital in North Chicago, IL for 28 years.

Dave was known for his sharp memory, fairness, kindness to others, and honesty.  Dave believed that everyone should be treated with respect and given a fair chance.  His law-abiding, honest ways were admirable, though his children would roll their eyes when he told them in the 80’s that making mix tapes was a copyright violation.

Dave’s greatest passion in life was sailing. He was a frequent participant in the 333-mile race from Chicago’s Navy Pier to the Mackinac Island finish line. Known as America’s Offshore Challenge, this race is the world’s longest annual freshwater sailing race and Dave was the team navigator.  On their first Mac Race, there were light winds and the team was going to arrive too late to meet their wives for the post-race parties.  They started the engines, and Dave suggested a shortcut over the reef. They changed course mid-reef and spotted boulders the “size of Buicks” all around them. But Dave’s navigation was true and the water was just deep enough to make it through safely.

He enjoyed any kind of skiing teaching his children to cross-country ski by 2, downhill ski by 4, and waterski by 6. His enthusiasm for the outdoors and water was passed on to his children and any niece or nephew that might want to give one of these sports a try.

Dave was an avid reader, sometimes showing up to family gatherings with a labeled ziploc bag of paperbacks for his nieces, nephews, and in-laws to choose from. He often told his children when they didn’t know something to “go to the library.”

Although we are all saddened by his passing, we are comforted knowing that he is reunited with his son David W. Quade and his parents.  He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Patricia; his daughter Kristin, son-in-law Kevin, and granddaughters Izzy and Natalie; his brother Bruce, sister-in-law Joyce, nephew Erik, and niece Kirsten; his brother-in-law Mike, sister-in-law Becky, niece Elizabeth, and nephew William; his sister-in-law Barb, brother-in-law Wayne, nephews Andrew and Benjamin, and niece Kathryn along with all of their extended families, second cousins, and friends.

The family will hold a private service at Norman Dean in Denville, NJ to allow for sharing of these personal memories. A graveside service will be held at Lake Forest Cemetery at 1pm CST on Thursday, August 29 and is open for anyone that may wish to attend.

You may light a candle, leave a condolence, or share a favorite memory of Dave to continue to celebrate his life. Dave was very much a man of the people and lived his life by giving back to those around him. In the spirit of Dave’s lifelong generosity, we are suggesting that in lieu of flowers, people consider tipping a little extra in is honor.