David VanMarter

KINGSFORD - David A. VanMarter, 48, of East Kingsford, died Friday, May 16, 2008, at Dickinson County Memorial Hospital. He was born Aug. 21, 1959, in Iron Mountain, the son of Lawrence and Ruth (Revior) VanMarter. Dave graduated from Kingsford High School in 1978. He was a welder at Customer Metal Fabrication. David enjoyed fishing and hunting. He was a fan of the Chicago Cubs and the Green Bay Packers, and enjoyed watching the games with his son, Travis. He was a member of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church and a past member of the Northland Beagle Club. He was also a former volunteer fireman for Breitung Township. Dave loved children and opened his heart and home to many of them, especially his nieces and nephews. He spent the last two years playing with and caring for his niece, Lynn Secrist, whom he was in the process of adopting. Dave married Sandy Secrist on Oct. 1, 1983, at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church. He is survived by his wife, Sandy; his son, Travis VanMarter of Niagara, Wis.; his mother, Ruth VanMarter of Kingsford; two brothers, Steve (Patricia) VanMarter of Newport, Ore., and Dennis (Susie) VanMarter of Iron Mountain; one sister Linda (Russ) Henderson of Ladson, S.C.; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Edward and Delores Secrist Sr.; two sisters-in-law, Gaye Lynn Secrist of Maui, Hawaii, and DeeAnn (fiance, Telly) Secrist of Draper, Utah; one brother-in-law, Edward (Ida) Secrist Jr. of Kingsford; many special nieces, nephews, and friends; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Dave was preceded in death by his father, Lawrence VanMarter; his nephew, Raymond Galbraith; and his brother-in-law, Larry Secrist. Visitation will be Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church. Funeral services will be held at 6 p.m. at the church. Rev. Lee Liverance will officiate. Burial will be in the Quinnesec Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, a memorial will be established. Condolences to the family of David A. VanMarter can be expressed online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com. The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the arrangements.

David VanMarter

August 21, 1959 - May 16, 2008