David A. (Sturzl) Mrotek, age 62, of Marshfield, WI, passed away on Friday, May 2, 2025, from complications of leukemia. He was born in Milwaukee on Sep. 27, 1962, to Errol Mrotek and Martha Blodgett Bradish. David was a member of the Ho Chunk Nation, nurturing a special place in his heart for his grandparents, Alvin and Sophie Lonetree-Mrotek, who helped raise him.
David grew up in Milwaukee but left it several times to follow his wanderlust, living in Australia, Spokane, WA and Baton Rouge, LA, to name just a few places. He always had a passion for cooking and earned degrees in both Culinary Arts and in Baking from Milwaukee Area Technical College, subsequently holding numerous positions in both fields.
In 2013, David met the love of his life, Celia Sturzl, and they married in 2016. They resided near Marshfield, WI, where they had a small hobby farm. The couple enjoyed traveling, hiking, cooking, gardening, volunteer work, pets and remodeling. Some of his favorite pastimes were making bread, building birdhouses, photography, working in his wood shop or kitchen, playing board and video games and learning something new every day.
David rarely met a person he didn’t like; he had a happy passion for life which was contagious to the many people he met. David’s favorite quote, which he repeated often, was, “We are always becoming….”
David is survived by his wife, Celia Sturzl, stepchild, Phoenix Zenaz, special cousins Carole and Karl Laustrup, his surrogate family the Lopers, as well as in-laws Mary Moss, Steve and Cora Sturzl, Chris and Sue Sturzl, Brian and Deb Sturzl, and many nephews and nieces that were special to him. David loved being part of these extended families, and they all adored him.
He is preceded in death by his grandparents, his brother-in-law Alan Moss and niece Janel Sturzl.
His family would like to thank all of the staff on 8 North for their kindness and compassion while David was in the Marshfield Medical Center over the past several months; their unwavering devotion was a great comfort.
A Service of Remembrance will be held at 12:30 PM Saturday, May 17, 2025, at Hansen-Schilling Funeral Home (1010 E. Veterans Pkwy, Marshfield, WI 54449). Visitation will be held from 10:30 AM until the time of services on Saturday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Personal Development Center or to the Marshfield Area Pet Shelter.
