Estelle Merlin passed away August 21st after 95 grand years on this earth. She was strong, beautiful, creative, and feisty.

She was an avid Packer fan who was always relieved when the priest wrapped up mass early enough to make it home for kickoff. She loved a good game of cards, especially sheepshead, and was still playing well into her 90s with her grandchildren.

She was still living independently in her little yellow house beside Silver Lake where our annual 4th of July family picnics were filled with swimming, beer, brats, her famous strawberry jello, and playing on the tree swing by the lake.

She maintained amazing mobility her entire life, to which she gave credit to her years of playing golf. She continued to cut her grass right up to the week before her death.

The thing that brought her the most joy was her family. After the death of her husband in 1968, Estelle raised six kids from the age of two to fifteen on her own. As an alumnus of Marquette University, she was proud that all six went on to graduate from college, even if none followed in her footsteps to MU.

She spoke often of how proud she was of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. We will miss her terribly and love her forever.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings, and her husband Richard. She is survived by her children: Mark, Dennis, Jan, Chris, Curt, Lisa, her grandchildren: Beth, Amanda, Taylor, Dylan, Paul, Ben, Kate, Molly, Maddy, Brock, and Dane, and her great-grandchildren: Avery, Zoe, Nick, Oliver, and Everett.

Visitation will be Wednesday, August 28th from 11:00 to 12:00 at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, Nashotah. There will be a mass of Christian burial at noon.

Memorials may be contributed to Waukesha County Meals on Wheels.

Denny was born in Madison, WI on October 17^th, 1947, to Parker Richard and Frances (Usher) Daggett.

He is survived by his devoted and loving wife of 44 years, Kaye (Peterson); children Rick (Liz Daly), Rob, and Kate; grandchildren Nora & Brendan; brother Dick (Pam) Daggett; sister Pat (Mike) Healy; brother-in-law David “PD” Peterson; nephews Griff and Sam Weber; nieces Kristin (Kevin) Williams and Lindsay (John) Berger; nephew-in-law Aaron Schwind; great nephew Jack; as well as many friends, including life-long friends Maureen and Annie.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his mother- and father-in-law, Helen & Richard Peterson, and his niece, Melissa (Peterson) Schwind.

Growing up, Denny’s family lived in cities across the U.S. including Madison, WI; Sioux City, IA; Whitefish Bay, WI; Silver Spring, MD; Whitefish Bay, WI (again); and Dallas, TX, before ultimately moving to Oconomowoc in 1962 when Denny was 15. He attended Oconomowoc High School, graduating in 1965.

Denny enlisted in the US Army at the age of 19 and served in Vietnam where he was awarded the Bronze Star. After his military service he attended the University of Wisconsin – Madison and later moved back to Oconomowoc.

Denny became known as “Mr. Oconomowoc”, having served as the Director of Tourism and Economic Development for the city of Oconomowoc for 13 years from 1988 to 2001. He was a passionate advocate and proponent of Oconomowoc and was tireless in his efforts to promote the city, including landing a segment on Good Morning America. He was involved in countless community efforts, including the Oconomowoc Public Library Board of Trustees, the Oconomowoc Parks & Rec Board, Oconomowoc Rotary Club, and the YMCA board (for which he received the Presidential Service Award). He was also President of the Wisconsin Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus, working not just to promote Oconomowoc, but in collaboration with other CVBs to promote the state of Wisconsin.

He was also committed to several charitable organizations, including the local chapter of the American Cancer Society (charter member). He was instrumental in the formation of the Silver Streak taxi service for the elderly and he was Chairman of the March of Dimes Walk America Fundraiser.

Denny was a proud Irish Catholic and served on the St. Jerome Parish Council. He brought communion to the homebound on weekends, a practice he found rewarding and solemn. He was also a 4^th degree knight of the Knights of Columbus.

At the culmination of his time serving the city of Oconomowoc, Denny was honored and extremely proud to be named Oconomowoc’s Citizen of the Year for 2001 by the Oconomowoc Area Chamber of Commerce. He was a selfless man, and in his remarks at the celebratory event he was quick to recognize the dozens of people he worked with hand in hand to make Oconomowoc a great place to live.

Denny was later Vice President of Public Affairs for Oconomowoc Residential Programs and then Director of Community Development at Pabst Farms Development Inc. He also served as Alderman for District 3 during his retirement.

More important than his many accomplishments, Denny was loved by many. He had an infectious sense of humor and was a bright light and source of mischievous fun. He was extremely generous with family and friends and he told stories that stayed with you (sometimes because you’d hear them more than once). He went by more than one moniker, whether “Denny,”  “Dag,” “Daggett,” or “Pop Pop” (as his grandchildren called him). But the only time you’d hear him respond to “Dennis” would have been at the DMV. 

Please join us to remember Denny on Saturday, June 8, at the Oconomowoc Rec Center, 220 W Wisconsin Ave, Oconomowoc, WI. Visitation from 1pm to 4pm, with a brief memorial service to follow starting at 4pm. Mass and burial at St. Jerome’s cemetery in Oconomowoc will follow at a later date.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Friday, July 12, 2024 at St. Catherine's Catholic Church, W359 N8512 Brown St, Oconomowoc at 1 PM. Visitation leading up to the Mass will begin at 12:30 PM. Burial will follow at 2:45 PM at St. Jerome Catholic Cemetery on Concord Rd in Oconomowoc with full military honors.