Gerald Louis David's Obituary
Gerald Louis David passed away peacefully on March 27th, 2021 at the age of 69. Jerry was raised in Nunica, Michigan in a large family with his 7 siblings. As a young man, he spent time working on the SS Badger as well as working on a boat on the Mississippi River. Jerry spent most of his career in the construction industry, where he took great pride in quality work while keeping the job site in tip top shape. While he was cranky at times, under that grumpy surface was a kind heart. He would do things like make a ramp for an elderly person’s blind dog or grow flowers to cut for his bride. Jerry enjoyed 23 years of marriage with his bride, Laura Jean. Jerry & Laura liked Sunday drives, hikes, volleyball, and golfing together. He loved living life with Laura, his friends, and family (especially the grandkids). The day to day life with the grandkids gave him much joy. Whether Papa was attending a sporting event, teaching the kids to yell at the squirrels in the bird feeder, or sharing gum drops with his great grandson in the barn, each moment with the kids was very special to him. Jerry loved to play scrabble with his mother and his daughter. Every big play was followed by a “he he he” chuckle as he racked up the points. Jerry loved being outside golfing, fishing, hunting, and gardening. When his kids were young, fishing trips on Muskegon Lake and camping trips were a part of every summer. He enjoyed his yearly fishing trips with his brother Bill, stepson Mitch, and many friends to the Upper Peninsula. Often times, the stories were more plentiful than the fish caught but it brought him joy, nonetheless. Later in life, he loved tinkering in the pole barn and making birdhouses by the dozen using license plates and loose parts. Jerry is preceded in death by his mother Dorothy, father Louis, brothers, Matthew, Dennis, and Mike, daughter, June Allison, and granddaughter Lana Joslyn. Surviving family is his bride, Laura Jean, children, Dawn (Brad) Zieger, Adam David, Kevin David, step children, Nikki Stewart, Mitchell (Andrea) Frees, and Krista (Adam) Ritchard, 15 grandchildren, two great grandchildren and one on the way. The family will be forgoing a formal funeral service to celebrate Jerry’s life privately. If you would like to celebrate his life, please hang a birdhouse in his honor and think of his love for nature and family.
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