David Lee Sorgel

David Lee Sorgel, age 79, of Three Lakes, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, September 5, 2026. He was born on October 24, 1946, in Mequon, the son of William J. Sorgel and Mary Jean Sorgel.

Dave received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Ringling College of Art & Design in Sarasota, Fla. He was a watercolor artist, he worked on the beach in Sarasota making items from silver, leather belts, leather sandals and other items. He was a history buff and loved Lewis and Clark. Dave also loved sailing and boating, fishing, cooking and spending time with family, especially his nieces and nephews teaching them the love of nature and travel. Dave was as passionate as he was curious from an early age. From his early teens to twenties, he was a musician who played guitar and harmonica in several bands with friends from Homestead High School and then in Florida and Colorado. He loved harmony and Crosby, Still, Nash & Young.

Dave met his wife Collette in 1992 and on August 24, 1997, they joined hands in holy matrimony on Emerald Bay in Lake Tahoe. Dave’s imagination, curiosity, and art are inspired by landscapes of the Midwest, especially those of his Wisconsin homeland. A lifelong outdoorsman, loving his intimate watercolors carrying within them the subtleties of light, shadow, and shading of prairies, lakes and woods.

Dave traveled to many places with his wife Collette, around the country and around the world. Wherever he went from the Lewis and Clark trail to the plains of East Africa, he brought the images back to his studio on the shores of Thunder Lake and uses them in his artwork. He also loved riding in fast cars especially his wife’s 68 mustang.

Dave was involved a lot in Three Lakes Historical Board, Three Lakes Lions Club board: vision screening and Mission trips with the Lions, Three Lakes Center for the Arts live performance set up, Paint n’ Sip, Lewis & Clark Badger Chapter Board, Mazomanie Historical Society Board and Milwaukee Advertising Club.

Dave is proceeded in death by his father William J. Sorgel, mother Mary Jean Sorgel and his brother Ric Sorgel. Dave’s legacy lives on through his wife Collette Imperl-Sorgel, and his sister in laws and brother in laws and Ric's wife Linda Sorgel as well as many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. He is also survived by his furry companion Remy.

His wishes were that he wanted to be cremated, no large celebration of life and have his ashes spread in a forest and where his first dog pointed its first woodcock. There will be a small gathering of remembrance on October 24, 2026, at Brew Station, 1803 Superior Street, Three Lakes, from noon until 4 p.m. Another small gathering will be planned with family.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Three Lakes Center for the Arts, P.O Box 126, Three Lakes, WI 54562 with the memo “in memory of Dave Sorgel.”

Arrangements by Gaffney-Busha Funeral Home, Eagle River. Online condolences may be expressed at gaffney-busha.com.