David Thomas Ware
January 13th, 1954 - September 25th, 2023
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David's Obituary
David Thomas Ware (69) of Saint Joseph, Michigan passed away on September 25, 2023. His wife of 33 years was by his side.
David was born in 1954 in Huntington, Indiana to Dale and Mary Charlotte (née Day) Ware. His mother said he was born with a cookie in his hand and a burning curiosity to figure out how things worked. She worried about taking him shopping with her for fear he’d take something apart and they wouldn’t be able to put it back together again. Both interests— cookies and curiosity— endured throughout his life and he rarely encountered something he could not fix and put back together. At 6’4” and redheaded in his youth, David was a gentle giant who loved learning about anything in God’s creation and by man’s invention. He delighted in plants, animals, waterways and the skies. He was usually better at forecasting the weather than meteorologists on TV. He was a woodworker, general handyman, and knew how to work on trains, planes, automobiles, and boats. He was always willing to lend a hand and his expertise, when he could, to a friend.
David graduated from Huntington North High School in 1972. He pursued degrees in Botany and Plant Pathology, graduating in 1976 from Purdue University. After graduation he was employed by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Grain Inspection Services. Just before his 24th birthday, the Farmer’s Grain Elevator in Galveston, Texas, where David worked, exploded. Many of David’s coworkers were killed or maimed and David was left with post-traumatic stress disorder that would go untreated for over 30 years. For the next 22 years he worked in many different capacities and locations for the USDA in South Carolina, California, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, and Idaho.
In 1989 David decided to change course and pursue a vocation working with his hands. He enrolled in Idaho State University’s School of Aircraft Maintenance Technology, graduating in 1991. While at ISU, David met his wife Mary Ann (née Oakey). They married in 1990. His aviation career took them first to Boise, Idaho and then to the Portland, Oregon area where he worked for Horizon Air. During this time they welcomed two sons into their family, Jacob in 1996 and Russell in 1998. David returned to the USDA in 1998 and the family returned to Idaho to be near Mary Ann’s parents. Upon their deaths, the family of four moved to Southwestern Michigan in 2004. David retired in 2005 and became a stay-at-home dad while he refurbished the family’s home.
David was preceded in death by his parents and dear brother-in-law David Park. David is survived by his wife Mary Ann, sons Jacob and Russell; his brother Doug (Virginia) Ware of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; his sister Carolyn Park, of Stephens City, Virginia; and his five beloved nieces— Rachel (née Park) Haws of Purcellville, VA, Anna Marie Ware of Culver, Indiana, Lauren (née Park) Wind of Washington DC, Kristin (née Ware) Paine of Nashville, Tennessee, and Meredith Park of Loveland, Colorado.
The family would like to thank Caring Circle Hospice and the many friends and family members who helped with David’s care,
meals, and deck building during his final illness. They would like to encourage anyone wishing to honor him to be a helping hand when they see someone else in need. That’s what David would have done.
Mary Ann and the boys plan to host a celebration of his life on January 13, 2024 on what would have been David’s 70th birthday. Details will be shared closer to the time of the event. Cookies will be served.
Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.heritage-chapel.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to Heritage Chapel & Cremation Services, 8747 US 31, Berrien Springs, MI 269-471-2700.
David was born in 1954 in Huntington, Indiana to Dale and Mary Charlotte (née Day) Ware. His mother said he was born with a cookie in his hand and a burning curiosity to figure out how things worked. She worried about taking him shopping with her for fear he’d take something apart and they wouldn’t be able to put it back together again. Both interests— cookies and curiosity— endured throughout his life and he rarely encountered something he could not fix and put back together. At 6’4” and redheaded in his youth, David was a gentle giant who loved learning about anything in God’s creation and by man’s invention. He delighted in plants, animals, waterways and the skies. He was usually better at forecasting the weather than meteorologists on TV. He was a woodworker, general handyman, and knew how to work on trains, planes, automobiles, and boats. He was always willing to lend a hand and his expertise, when he could, to a friend.
David graduated from Huntington North High School in 1972. He pursued degrees in Botany and Plant Pathology, graduating in 1976 from Purdue University. After graduation he was employed by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Grain Inspection Services. Just before his 24th birthday, the Farmer’s Grain Elevator in Galveston, Texas, where David worked, exploded. Many of David’s coworkers were killed or maimed and David was left with post-traumatic stress disorder that would go untreated for over 30 years. For the next 22 years he worked in many different capacities and locations for the USDA in South Carolina, California, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, and Idaho.
In 1989 David decided to change course and pursue a vocation working with his hands. He enrolled in Idaho State University’s School of Aircraft Maintenance Technology, graduating in 1991. While at ISU, David met his wife Mary Ann (née Oakey). They married in 1990. His aviation career took them first to Boise, Idaho and then to the Portland, Oregon area where he worked for Horizon Air. During this time they welcomed two sons into their family, Jacob in 1996 and Russell in 1998. David returned to the USDA in 1998 and the family returned to Idaho to be near Mary Ann’s parents. Upon their deaths, the family of four moved to Southwestern Michigan in 2004. David retired in 2005 and became a stay-at-home dad while he refurbished the family’s home.
David was preceded in death by his parents and dear brother-in-law David Park. David is survived by his wife Mary Ann, sons Jacob and Russell; his brother Doug (Virginia) Ware of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; his sister Carolyn Park, of Stephens City, Virginia; and his five beloved nieces— Rachel (née Park) Haws of Purcellville, VA, Anna Marie Ware of Culver, Indiana, Lauren (née Park) Wind of Washington DC, Kristin (née Ware) Paine of Nashville, Tennessee, and Meredith Park of Loveland, Colorado.
The family would like to thank Caring Circle Hospice and the many friends and family members who helped with David’s care,
meals, and deck building during his final illness. They would like to encourage anyone wishing to honor him to be a helping hand when they see someone else in need. That’s what David would have done.
Mary Ann and the boys plan to host a celebration of his life on January 13, 2024 on what would have been David’s 70th birthday. Details will be shared closer to the time of the event. Cookies will be served.
Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.heritage-chapel.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to Heritage Chapel & Cremation Services, 8747 US 31, Berrien Springs, MI 269-471-2700.
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