David Burnell Stark

David was born in Platteville, Wisconsin on June 28, 1941, and died with his partner Michelle by his side at home in Glendale, Arizona.

After David graduated High School, he was drafted by the US Army and spent two years during the Vietnam War as a mechanic working on Caribou airplanes. Of special note, it was during this same war David and his family lost his youngest brother, Gordon. After the war, David became a 48 year career machinist working at both Rockford Products and Pearson Fastener for 24 years each.

He and Michelle dated for two years in the early ‘70s, and 30 years later fate intervened, and they reconnected, becoming life partners, snowbirding between his home in Byron, IL, and Michelle’s home in Glendale, AZ. Together they enjoyed making David’s bachelor pad into the comfortable home they shared their summers in. He loved maintaining both of their properties and sharing his love of vegetable and flower gardening, birds, and classic cars with Michelle.

After the effects of a stroke in 2018 and subsequent Alzheimer's, it became increasingly difficult for David to do all the things he once loved doing, but his determination to summer at home in Byron never faltered, only having to miss this summer because he was not physically able to travel.

During his declining years, Michelle never left his side, taking great care of him, honoring his wish to be at home, and making sure he lived every day to its fullest. She wants to express gratitude and thanks to her daughter, Cindy, for loving David, the exceptional care she gave him, and for being at her side through every step of this journey. Special thanks to Byron friends and great neighbors Helen, Jack, and Dave, for maintaining David’s property when he just couldn’t be there to do it himself. She feels beholden to all of them for their invaluable support and hard work.

David is going to be missed by nieces and nephews, Lisa, Jean and Gary, Brenda and Bob, Ann and Rob, Greg and Christine, and sister-in-law Doris, along with many dear friends he met during his life journey. Living between two places, he decided not to have any services held in his honor, but hoped his memory will inspire his loved ones to reach out to a friend and give them a hug in his honor for many years to come.