David could fill a room with his booming voice, retelling stories from his world travels selling manufacturing equipment and conveyor belt systems in Asia and South America. He made friends wherever he traveled, leading to his success in business and life.
David was born to Vernon August Dicke and Anna Margaret (Uncapher) Dicke in St. Mary’s, Ohio on October 29, 1943.
In his younger years, he lived on a farm in New Bremen, Ohio and moved to Findlay, Ohio around middle school.
His family has heard many stories of his animals on the farm, including those of his pet lamb, Snorky.
His antics with friends in Findlay also were legendary, including one where he attempted to “lose” his trombone in a lake so that his mother would allow him to play football.
After graduating from Muskingum College in 1965 with a degree in economics, he married Kathryn (Kathy) Baker in 1966.
Over the course of a successful career, he worked for Arco, Goodyear, Mitsubishi, Meyer Systems, Industrial Conveyance and Equipment, and Beltservice Corporation.
The family moved often as David's career progressed, hopscotching from Akron, Ohio to Lincoln, Nebraska to Saginaw, Michigan.
David and Kathy's first daughter, Amy, was born in Lincoln, and their second daughter, Susan, was born in Saginaw.
The family also lived in Carmel, Indiana; Geneva, Illinois; Houston, Texas; Shreveport, Louisiana, and St. Louis, Missouri. He and Kathy retired in San Antonio, Texas in 2015, where Amy and her family live.
David's hobbies included reading, parties with friends, golfing, playing cards, and watching Jeopardy. He was also a faithful fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and the San Antonio Spurs. After retirement, he consulted for Apache Inc.
David had a brilliant mind and was known for helping his kids and grandkids with science fair and math fair projects (several of whom were influenced to build conveyor systems). He also provided tutoring for geography bees and college entrance exams, and even took a stab at leading Susan’s Brownie troop.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Sallie Cook, and his aunt, Mildred Dicke. He is survived by his wife of nearly 54 years, Kathy, and two daughters: Amy Bohmann and her husband, Jon, and Susan Miraflores and her husband, Ramon, and six grandchildren, Martina and Evan Bohmann, Olivia Bradshaw, and Ramon, Alfonso, and Gwendolyn Miraflores.
In addition, he is survived by his brother-in-law, Roger Cook, and three nephews: Dave Cook and his wife Sarah; Dan Cook, his wife Kim, and children Carter and Jane; and John Cook, his wife Holly Firmin, and their son, James.
A celebration of life is planned for the fall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association, 7272 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX, 75231, and the National Kidney Foundation, 30 East 33rd St., New York, NY, 10016.
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