Dave Soerens

Dave Allen Soerens died on October 7, 2026, surrounded by family who loved him dearly. Dave was born on August 26, 1952, in Sheboygan, Wisconsin to Glenn and Laverne (VanderWeele) Soerens. He grew up in Oostburg, Wisconsin, alongside three brothers and two sisters. He met Jane Shaver at Oostburg High School, where he was a star running back on the football team and she was a cheerleader. They married on August 19, 1972.

Dave earned his bachelor’s degree from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and then a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He began his career at 3M in Minnesota, then worked for more than three decades for Kimberly-Clark Corporation in Neenah, Wisconsin. Over the course of his career as a research chemist, Dave earned more than 90 patents, making him one of the most prolific inventors of the company.

Faith was central to Dave’s life and identity. He loved, trusted in and sought to faithfully follow Jesus. He spent most mornings in the Bible throughout his adult life, and he served as an elder for many years at Calvary Bible Church in Neenah. He lived with a confident hope of salvation, redemption and resurrection through Christ.

Dave was a loving, kind and dedicated father to four children, Julie (Joe), Tim (Maria Jose), Matthew (Diana) and Andrew (Anne). Dave and Jane took joy in watching their children grow and become parents themselves to their seventeen grandchildren: Maria, Simon, John Paul, Lukas, Anna, Zipporah, Thomas, Zephaniah, Elizabeth, Joaquin, Zoe, Isaac, Charlie, Zacchaeus, Benjamin, Peter and Dominic.

Dave was soft-spoken and gentle, except when watching his beloved Green Bay Packers or navigating Chicago traffic. He loved to laugh – sometimes to the point of wheezing. He was proudly, sometimes comically, frugal. At various points of his life, he enjoyed golf, sailing, travel, playing the drums, biking, managing investments and brewing his own beer.

Dave lived for the last decade of his life with Alzheimer’s Disease, which slowly took his memories and abilities to reason and communicate. He was cared for faithfully by Jane, his beloved wife of 54 years, with vital support from the staff at Valley VNA in Neenah and from Moments Hospice in his final months.

Dave was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Beth. He is survived by his three brothers – Thomas (Cheryl), Mike (Sandy) and Jim (Jessica) – and his sister, Bonnie (Dennis), as well as his children and grandchildren, who are happy for him to be in the presence of Jesus but will miss him profoundly.

A memorial service will be held at 4:00 P.M. on Friday, October 16, 2026 at Calvary Bible Church, 1450 Oakridge Rd., Neenah. A visitation will be held at church from 2:30 P.M. until the hour of service. Dave will be laid to rest at Oak Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution at give.gofundme.com/InMemoryofDave to Village of Hope, a ministry in Zambia that Dave visited in 2011 and which was close to his heart.