David Earl Presnell

Heaven. David was born July 26, 1939, and passed away on August 18, 2022, at the age of 83.

He was the youngest of three children born to Earl and Dorothy Presnell and grew up in Waterford with his sisters Barbara and Pearl. David attended Downey High during the "American Graffiti Day's". He loved Levi’s, white t-shirts, fast cars, speed boats, and flying airplanes. Some other favorite pass times included fishing, hunting and long swims in the ocean.

Through his life David put his hand to many things and was always willing to help whoever would call. He was a jack of many trades and he could fix just about anything. He would use whatever he had available and mickey mouse it with some duct tape and bailing wire to get a project up and running. We have affectionately coined that “Presnell it”.

As a young man David "cowboyed" for his dad on the Nevada cattle ranch. He also worked closely with his aunt Verda Foster and learned the ins and outs of the poultry business. He later became self-employed operating an egg processing plant. Poultry was not the only farming operation he undertook. He also had a successful dairy, a cattle ranch and raised goats. However, the job he loved the most and touched so many lives were his years in ministry as a pastor at Planada Community Church and school.

David loved family. He enjoyed large family dinners. He loved T-bone steaks and could pick that bone completely clean. He also loved homemade ice cream and he would top it with walnuts and maple syrup. He didn’t need a reason to have the family get together at the ranch; everyone was always welcome. You could find him playing volleyball with his children and grandchildren and sometimes catch him having various contests with his grandsons. With his large family there were plenty of opportunities for him to give life lessons, whether it was because you got in trouble or were just hanging out.

David’s parents and sisters Barbara Baker and Pearl Abanathie are in Heaven with him. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife Joanne, his children, Julie Moitoso (Albert), Michelle Pritchard (Robert), Lisa Yorba (George), Kristy Presnell, Jill Stone (Paul), Jacob Brannan (Sandy), thirteen grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren, extended family and friends.

This is not goodbye but a temporary farewell. Celebrate his life with us knowing he lived life wide open and gave of everything he was created to be.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on September 6, 2022 at First Baptist Church, 500 Buena Vista Dr. Merced, at 11:30 a.m. A luncheon will follow in the Church's social hall. Burial will be private at Lakewood Memorial Park in Hughson.

In lieu of flowers you can gift in his memory to Planada Community Church, PO box 247, Planada, CA 95365 or Alpha Pregnancy Help Center 700 Loughborough Dr., Ste A, Merced, CA 95348.