David Charles Grier

David Charles Grier, 92, of South Haven, MI, passed peacefully at home surrounded by family on October 22, 2020.

Funeral services will be held at Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church at 11 a.m. Monday, October 26 and may be viewed by livestream online at www.peaceinsouthhaven.org/worship/worship-live-stream. Friends may visit with the family from 2–4 p.m. Sunday, October 25 at Filbrandt Family Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Rotary International’s Fight Against Disease or to Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church.

The second of four sons, David was born to Kenneth and Mary Elizabeth (Hoag) Grier on January 27, 1928 in Albion, MI. He and his brothers shared fond memories of many boyhood summers spent with grandparents and extended family in Springport, MI. The Grier family moved to Buffalo, New York in 1944, and the following year David graduated from Kenmore High School at age 17.

David enlisted in the Army in September 1946, becoming a Cryptanalysis Tech.

He went on overseas duty that November, serving in the Armed Forces Security Agency in Frankfort, Germany for over 22 months before being honorably discharged in September of 1949.

After returning to Michigan, David began undergraduate studies at Albion College. These studies were interrupted briefly when he was recalled to serve in the Korean War. He received his Bachelor of Arts, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1954. David attended Law School at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Upon graduation in 1957, David moved to Marcellus, MI and was admitted to practice law in all Michigan courts.

David married Betty Noble on August 17, 1957. The couple had four children, son James Richard, who passed away as an infant, and daughters Judith Elizabeth, Kathleen Ann and Elizabeth Kay, whom he and Betty loved dearly. The family made their home in South Haven, where David practiced law for over 50 years as partner with Neal, Grier, Hanson & Hanson Attorneys at Law. Betty passed in July 1981.

David spent the last 14 years of his legal career as Judge of the 7th District Court in South Haven, a role he considered both a great responsibility and privilege.

He married Martha June Wohlfert on November 27, 1982. They filled their later years together with family, hosting their many children and grandchildren for 4th of July parades and Christmas dinners, spending summers at Lake Leelanau and wintering with friends in Destin, Florida. Martha passed in January 2011.

David is survived by brother Doug (Pat) Grier of Woburn, MA; daughters Judy (Gregg) Jones of Kalamazoo, MI, Kathy (Walt) Sicard of South Haven, MI and Elizabeth (Larry) Hill of Lawrence, MI; grandchildren Tim (Kelly) Hill of Columbia, MO, Steve (Beth) Hill of Lakeland, FL, Emily (Trevor) Nickerson of St Joseph, MI, Betty Jones of Kalamazoo, MI, Cory (Mandy) Sicard of Palmyra, VA, Maggie Hill of Peoria, IL and Andrew (Sam) Sicard of Hudsonville, MI; great-grandchildren Gideon and Ginny; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by wives Betty Grier and Martha Grier; parents Kenneth and Elizabeth Grier; brothers Richard Grier and Donald Grier; and son James Richard Grier.

Special thanks to Hospice at Home, Caring Circle and caregivers Jessica Rodriquez, Kathy and Tony Borowiak, and Amy Mortensen.