Dr. David B. Sutton MD's Obituary
Dr. David Sutton, MD, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and local pediatrician, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on April 21, 2012 following a brave fight against cancer. He was born April 28, 1952 in Champaign, IL to Robert and Elizabeth Sutton. On February 26, 1971 he had an unexpected encounter with Jesus that changed the rest of his life. He always said he made the second best choice of his life when he married Beth Nelson on December 17, 1977. He graduated from Wheaton College with highest honors in 1977, and from the University Of Illinois School Of Medicine in 1981. Upon completion of his pediatric residency, he moved to Muskegon where he practiced general pediatrics for 9 years before limiting his practice to Behavioral Pediatrics for the rest of his career. He was a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, a Muskegon County Medical Society member, a member of the West Michigan Speedskating Club and active at Forest Park Covenant Church. Throughout his life he was passionate about serving others and living out his faith. He took yearly medical mission trips to Romania from 1991 to 2000, and in more recent years, 6 trips to work with Habitat for Humanity in Clarksdale, MS. He was also a Sunday School teacher, prayer warrior, and encourager of many. In 2007, he began riding recumbent bicycles and rode 22,000 miles before his death. SURVIVORS include his wife Beth; 3 daughters, Emily (Jeremy) McClements of South Bend, IN, Rachel (James) Line of Grand Haven, Laura Sutton of Wheaton, IL; 2 grandchildren, Kaelyn and Brenden McClements; 1 brother, William “Bill” (Jane) Sutton of Urbana, IL; 2 sisters, Sarah Mager of Amherst, MA, and his twin Betsy (Jim) Smith of Urbana, IL. He was preceded in death by his parents. VISITATION at Sytsema Funeral Homes, Inc.,The Lee Chapel, 6291 S. Harvey St., Norton Shores, MI, 49444, (231) 798-1100 will be from 5-8 PM Friday evening, April 27. A CELEBRATION OF DR. SUTTON’S LIFE will begin at 6:00 PM Saturday evening, April 28, at the Forest Park Covenant Church, 3815 Henry St., with Rev. Wally Coots officiating. There will also be a time of visitation 1 hour prior to the service at church. You may sign the family’s online guest book at www.sytsemafh.com Contributions in memory of Dr. Sutton may be made to Clarksdale Habitat for Humanity, PO Box 861, Clarksdale, MS, 38614, the West Michigan Speedskating Club, 2179 Lake Ave., Twin Lake, Michigan, 49457, Forest Park Covenant Church, or Young Life Metro Southwest, 812 Hillgrove Ave., Western Springs, IL, 60558.
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