David Allan Wilson

Dave was born in Lansing, Michigan on October 3, 1946 and moved to Traverse City at a young age. His earliest memories were playing with kids in the Elmwood neighborhood where he shagged baseballs and broke an occasional window playing catch with his older brother, Bud. His athletic prowess would take off later in Little League when Bardon’s Wonder Freeze could hardly keep up with the free milk shakes he was rewarded for home-runs.

In high school Dave excelled in athletics, especially football and shot put. He never forgot his mentors in sports, academics, and life in general. Later on he aspired to be a good role model for his own children and others, like his mentors were to him. He coached soccer, was a Boy Scout leader and church and community volunteer. And to keep fit he traded in his cleats for gym shoes.

With the Vietnam War looming, Dave joined the Navy in 1966 as a hospital corpsman. After boot camp at Great Lakes Naval Training Base, he was sent to Norfolk and Quantico before his final assignment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Constellation for a tour off the coast of Vietnam.

In 1970 Dave was honorably discharged and finished his undergraduate degree in Economics at Michigan State. Following a two-year stretch in banking he returned to the classroom, this time for an MBA at the University of Michigan. After graduation he accepted a position in Melbourne, FL where he had various leadership roles before joining a startup tech company from which he eventually retired.

In retirement Dave reached out to his extended family to learn more about his Scottish/English ancestry. He relished history and word play and often beat family and friends at board games. His reserved demeanor concealed a spot-on dry wit that could catch a listener off guard. He particularly enjoyed Britcoms on PBS, documentaries and biographies of our nation’s founding fathers. He was intellectual and methodical but hidden below the surface resided a sentimental and romantic soul.

Dave enjoyed sunsets over the Indian River, Disney World and walks on the beach. He loved to travel and experience different cultures. In every place he visited, he sought to see things from his host’s perspective. A lifelong learner, Dave participated in classes based on The Great Courses and practiced Tai Chi and yoga. He liked watching the moon rise over the ocean and the rocket launches from the front yard. But he always considered himself a Midwesterner and missed the changing of the seasons and autumn colors of Northern Michigan.

Caregiving was Dave’s true, if unspoken, passion and he was generous. He put his education and career on hold many times to support his immediate family and advocate for others, like closing up his dad’s business, helping to raise two great kids he was very proud of, mentoring friends who sought his advice, and especially giving a kidney to his wife.

Even before Lewy Body dementia robbed him of his mind and body, Dave was able to communicate his love and respect for those around him. One young aide at the memory care facility where Dave spent his final days wrote that Dave had strengthened his own values. He taught us all how to be better human beings by demonstrating fair play, integrity, and compassion in all that he did.

Dave was preceded in death by his parents George E and Marjorie “Jean” Wilson; older brother, George E. “Bud” Wilson, Jr.; infant sister, Andrea Jean and brother-in-law John F. Hagen.

He leaves behind his wife of 51 years, Kathy (Hagen); son Eric (Beth) of Sharon, PA; daughter, Katie of Jacksonville, FL; granddaughters, Alice and Lucy of Sharon, PA; brother, James A. Wilson (Char) of Traverse City; nephews, Adam (Carolyn) Wilson of Traverse City and Jack Hagen of Traverse City and Alaska; sister-in-law, Dierdre Mahoney of Traverse City; brothers-in-law James Hagen and Jeff Oishi of Minneapolis; two grand-nephews Elijah and Jordan Wilson of Traverse City and many cousins near and far.

A Memorial Services for Dave will be held in Traverse City on October 13, 2023 at 11 am at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.neptunesociety.com/location/jacksonville-cremation for the Wilson family.