David Blake

David A. Blake, age 61, of Three Oaks, Michigan died unexpectedly Monday at Lakeland Medical Center in Niles. He was born September 30, 1951, in Michigan City to the late Henry and Myrtle (Shipley) Blake. On August 10, 1981 in Houston, Texas he married Sandra Hamilton who survives; along with three daughters, Tamika Blake of Michigan City, Indiana, Rachel (Brian) Hempel-Zygmunt of Highland, Indiana and Desma (Josh) Darnell of Galien; two sons, David (Torrina) Blake of New Buffalo, Derek (Sarah) Hempel of South Bend, Indiana; and Daisuke Uchida an exchange student from Japan who was considered our son from Japan. He is also survived by six grandchildren; three sisters, Mary Petroff of Tampa, Florida, Regina Blake of Bradenton, Florida, Stephanie Ross of Michigan City, Indiana; three brothers, Donald Petroff of Portland, Oregon, Dennis Blake and Danny Blake both of Michigan City. Two sisters preceded him in death Beatrice (Sally) Dunn and Dorothy Krajewski along with two brothers, Paul Petroff and John Reed Petroff. David was a Navy veteran and served during the Vietnam War. He had worked in the Galien Public Schools as Director of Maintenance and was admired and loved by many of the students who would acknowledge him by giving him the peace sign. David was and active member in the Berrien County Democrat Party and the Galien American Legion Post 344. Services for David will be held Saturday at The First United Methodist Church, 132 S. Oak St. in Buchanan at 11:00 a.m., with Pastor Rob McPherson officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Military Rites will be presented by American Legion Post 344 of Galien. The family is being served by Swem Chapel in Buchanan. Memorial Contributions may be made to: Disabled American Veterans, Attention Gift Processing, P.O. box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301 or The Salvation Army, 424 S. 15th St. Niles, Michigan 49120. To sign his guest book or leave a condolence message please visit our web site www.swemchapel.com.