David Mack Bane

It is difficult to find the right words to adequately describe a man as remarkable and unique as David Bane. Born in Detroit, David was the second son to Rebecca and Obie (a welder at the Ford Motor Company). David took pride in his parent’s Southern roots and grew up along with his older brother, John, and their younger sister, Deborah. The 60’s and 70’s were a poignant and turbulent time for David and his family first with the tragic loss of their father, which especially had a deep impact on a young and impressionable David, and then later with his valiant service in United States Army and in Vietnam.

David’s military career took him all over the world having been stationed throughout the United States, as well as in Japan, South Korea and Germany, and it was during his tenure in the Army where his oldest children were born (David Jr. and Midori) and later when he met the love of his life, Kyoung Won. Kyoung’s and David’s union produced two children, Vickey and Jason, but life’s twists and turns would soon bring hardship upon David yet again when Kyoung fell ill and passed away at a young age. With two young children, David was left to navigate the next chapter in his life’s journey, and for the next several decades of his life, David called Southern California home. It was in this next chapter that like a chameleon adapting to new surroundings and circumstances, David continued to evolve and endure. David later met Imelda (who preceded him in death in 2025) and the two together would continue to raise Vickey and Jason. Though David’s lasting legacy is the pride and joy he had for Vickey and Jason, he will always be remembered for his numerous other quirks and qualities and his many achievements in life:

- A gift for storytelling, jokes and dry humor

- Surviving a bank robbery and shooting while on duty early in his career as a Military Police officer in the Army

- Love of Korean BBQ, especially Galbi, and cucumber kimchi

- Fluency in the Korean language. (It was always entertaining for his kids to see the shock on people’s faces to unexpectedly hear him converse fluently in Korean).

- Springing into action and saving a man’s life while working at a print shop, and later earning an award from the American Red Cross

- Working as a Kindergarten teacher, French restaurant manager, and also as a bartender

- Later pursuing higher education by joining the medical profession and becoming a licensed vocational nurse who dedicated his career to serving those at end of life in hospice

- A special connection and affinity for his dear Uncle James and Aunt Sylvia in Kentucky

- His love of reading novels (especially murder mysteries, and crime dramas)

- The thrill he got from playing California lottery scratcher tickets and the “Keno” machine at the local donut shop

- Bragging about his children’s achievements

David was loved and admired immensely by his children, Vickey and Jason. He also leaves behind his dear grandchildren, Abigail, Jack, and Hailey, brother, John, sister-in-law, Brenda, and brother-in-law, Charles, along with nieces and nephews, and friends. Dad, thank you for everything you sacrificed for us. It pains us so much that you suffered with illness the last several years of your life, but we are so grateful to have had your love, presence, and support notwithstanding, and are so happy you lived to know your grandchildren. We pray you are now surrounded in peace and in love. We love you, dad, and we will never ever forget you.