David Randolph

October 17th, 1943 - October 22nd, 2023

David 's Memory Wall

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When I moved back to St. Joseph, after spending 5 years retired in Florida, Dave and I connected. We did the afternoon pub visits, trying to advantage of happy hour. Dave would help me anytime I needed it, a big deal for me living alone (with my dog Mister). Dave was always kind to Mister, and usually had him riding with me (he was comfortable staying in the Jeep while waiting for me to finish a couple beverages with Dave)! Another big deal Dave did for me was to call and check on me, I really appreciated that.

As old men do, Dave scanned the obituaries and then tell me stories about the folks he knew, he was quite active and varied throughout his life.

Although I didn’t know his wife, he was sure to let know about the affection he had for her and would let me know when he visited her grave.

I do and will miss his company…

Thomas Kettle

November 6th, 2023 at 9:31pm

Dave was a big believer in the “Power of the Pub.” He always said that the pub is a place where connections are made, ideas hatched, and deals are sealed.

Dave was my engineer at Whirlpool from about 1990 to 1995, if I remember correctly. Technically he was a “boss”, but really it was more like we were a team, and he was the team leader. I was the “kid” on the team and Ron and Brad were the experienced techs. Dave always treated us with utmost respect. He listened to our opinions and trusted our creative thoughts and energies. We truly worked as a team, with some amazing accomplishments that were still influencing Whirlpool’s model lines at the time of my own retirement in 2020 – though most of Whirlpool today has forgotten what we did.

And yes, some of those “creative thoughts and energies” were, in fact, thrashed out over lunch at the pub. I will say no more...

After Dave retired, our friendship continued. We frequently met for a beer after my work. I used to be his technical guy, helping him with his computers and printers and voter databases (when he was involved in Lincoln Twp politics). He always wanted to pay me – a lot more than I thought I was worth. See that’s the thing. He was always encouraging me to go after this or that idea or dream that I had. He introduced me to people. Connections were made. He believed in me more than I did.

In recent years, as I got older, and various health issues manifested in my life, I had to step away from our old routine. In the past couple years, I rarely talked with Dave. Now, suddenly he’s gone, and here I am with my regrets. How many times have you heard that before?

There are many “Dave-isms” I could quote. I mentioned that Dave never took credit for team accomplishments, though it was common in those days for engineers to forget to mention subordinates when speaking to management. Dave used to tell us:

“You guys have to work your asses off to make me look average!”

Rest in peace Dave. I’m gonna miss you.

Oh, and one last Dave-ism. There was a term of endearment that he used to say to his friends. I’m sure many here have heard it. So I would like to turn it around, and say “Dave, I never liked you.”

Tim Hart

November 6th, 2023 at 4:07pm

My favorite memory of Dave is of a man that loved and cared for all living beings. Dave is the man who never stopped loving his dear wife, Karen. Dave is the man who would literally give you the shirt off his back if you told him you needed it, even if it was the last shirt he owned. He is that man who adopted and loved the “unadoptable” dogs, and remained loving and loyal to them until they took their last breaths. He is the man that went out on a cold night in the pouring rain to try to help a Momma raccoon and her babies escape from a dumpster, and went out first thing in the morning to make certain they had escaped. Dave is the man that went walking with a friend and her dog at night because she didn’t want to walk alone, even though his knee was in excruciating pain. Dave is the man who was loyal and loving to his friends and family. That is my favorite memory of Dave. That is why I loved him and will miss him.