David Paul Hermsmeier

Dave Hermsmeier said goodbye to this world and was welcomed home on April 3rd, 2019. His death was ultimately caused by cancer, but multiple health complications were at play. The cancer was revealed after a car accident on June 2nd, 2018 brought Dave to the hospital. X-rays showed there was a cancerous tumor in his lung, the car accident resulted in two broken vertebrae as well. Dave was determined to never give up and those that know him know this had been true to his character throughout his life. After dozens of radiation and chemo treatments throughout the months following the accident, Dave was told the cancer had spread to his spine, nervous system, and brain. Even so, he knew he wasn’t giving up. Sheer resilience sustained him three more months. Dave died with wonderful care at Capitol Hospice Care in Arlington, VA at age 65. Born David Paul Hermsmeier in Washington, D.C. on January 19th, 1954, he was the son of Iris and Paul Hermsmeier. Preceded in death by his father, Paul and his sister, Janet Bossange who also passed away from cancer on April 13, 2011. Janet and Dave, “Ray” as she called him, were very close. Janet was married to John Bossange who Dave considered a brother to the end. Dave is survived by his mother Iris Hermsmeier; his son Brian Hermsmeier and his wife Ashley, and their five children Jordon, Jaxson, Hayley, Lily, and Keegan; and his brother John Hermsmeier and his wife Kim, and their three children Nathaniel, Madeline, and Isabelle. Instead of a traditional service, a celebration of life will take place in Blacksburg, VA sometime this summer. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made by purchasing for yourself a special treat and a trip to your local national or state park. Relax, reflect on the beauty of nature, and remember the good times in life. This is how Dave celebrated life and if you know Dave and are close enough to want to send flowers then you know he loves you very much, and he would want you to spend your time, money, and energy remembering him by having a good time, go to the river, skip a rock, watch the sunset, and be grateful for it all. He did these things often, and it helped bring him peace in the midst of a chaotic world. Dave loved the country and all kinds of natural landscapes, the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, the Georgia pines, the New River, the horse farm in Shawsville, the Great Falls, Martha’s Vineyard, Lake Champlain, just to name a few. He loved so many people and so many things. He loved animals and was a dog breeder of German Shepherds and a dog trainer, and helped raise horses, iguanas, parakeets, and numerous other life forms. He loved art, especially watercolor paintings; he loved music, especially southern rock and would often quote lyrics in normal conversation. He loved sports, especially all of them, and played tennis, basketball, horseshoes, darts, pool, literally everything was a type of competition, even throwing a balled-up piece of paper in the trash can. He would often call an impossible shot but was never surprised when he made it. A flawless man, by no means, some may even say ornery at times, but one who was always courageously unique and relentlessly real. A man who loved his family and was determined to help care for his mother in her home as long as he could. Misunderstood in many ways but understanding of other’s misunderstanding. A true artist in flesh and spirit, a father, a son, a brother, a builder, a teacher, an athlete, a musician, a lover, a fighter, a midnight rider; Dave Hermsmeier.