Joseph David Cysewski was born on April 27, 1923 in Seattle, Washington to Leon (Larry) and Alice (Flynn) Cysewski. He graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1941 and then attended the Merchant Marine Academy. He served as a deck officer, mostly in the Pacific, until 1946. David was united in marriage to Jean Walker and they had a son, Stephen David Cysewski. He later married Faye Honner and they had two daughters: Nancy Cysewski Hanneman and Leesa Cysewski. David also had three step-daughters: Kathy, Kit and Rebecca Hinrichs. In 1971 he married Janette Cochrane.
As a young man David worked in many jobs. He worked in the shipyards of Seattle, as a logger, even selling vacuum cleaners. His main career was in heavy construction, building dams and powerhouses first as paymaster, then as a field office manager. His construction jobs took him to many states. He finally steeled in Wisconsin and in 1978 went to work at Motorbooks in Osceola, then for TEW Automotive Books in Marine, MN.
After retirement David stayed busy. At the age of 80 he published his first book, Silent Conversations. Five years later he published A Bridge Across. He was named poet laureate of Amery.
David's first love was always philosophy and spirituality. He believed passionately in the brotherhood of man, deplored war and violence and tried always to be a peacemaker. He has been a dearly loved teacher and mentor to many people, and will be sorely missed. He passed away peacefully at home on February 16, 2011 from complications of Parkinson's disease.
David was preceded in death by his parents, Larry and Alice Cysewski, his sister Marion (Don) Magnuson, Brother Leon Cysewski, daughter Leesa Cysewski, and step-daughters Kathy Heath and Kit Colbert.
He is survived by his wife Janette Cysewski, son Stephen Cysewski, daughter Nancy (William) Hanneman, step-daughter Rebecca Robles-Ortega, and granddaughters Elizabeth Hancock, Margaret Cysewski, Sara Hanneman, Michelle Hanneman, Elsie Mathews and Jessica Zabrowski.
A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, February 26, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. from the Williamson-White Funeral Home in Amery with visitation for the hour before the service at the funeral home. Speaker will be Dale Snyder and a eulogy will be given by Thomas Warth. Special music will be provided by Eric Aleckson, Jane Aleckson, Sarah MacDougall and Neil Fagerstrom.

Memorial donations are preferred to either Books for Africa or Haiti Outreach.