David Allan Heale

David was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on October 12, 1941 and passed away at home in Fruita, Colorado on July 4, 2021 at the age of 79. David married Mary Trost (nee Zagzebski) on January 13, 1993 in Denver, Colorado. David is preceded in death by his parents, Hubert R. “Hoopie” Heale and Dorothy Heale, his brother, Chris Heale, step-sister Mary, and many years prior, his beloved grandparents Horace and Hannah Anderson.

David spent his childhood in Waukesha, Wisconsin and resided there again later in life, as well as many other places, and especially loved being near any body of water. Southern California on the Pacific Coast; Wisconsin on Lakes Okauchee and Poygan, and Colorado where he would find any reservoir to fish.

David loved fishing, even more so if his sons were along with him, football (especially the Packers), reading (always several books at a time), playing card games in person and online, and watching car racing. He loved his dogs, not so much his horses, telling stories and sharing his life adventures, including several Florida ocean fishing trips,a trip to watch the Daytona 500 and touring the country on his Harley, including a trip to Woodstock. He was also a member of the Sons of Norway, Elks and American Legion where he enjoyed having lively discussions with his peers. In fact, his story-telling became legend among the many who touched his life.

David loved challenges and was a rather rebellious young man. He played football in high school and then joined the United States Army on November 6, 1958. He spent one and a half years overseas serving in and near Vietnam as an Army Ranger with the 101st Airborne. His designations included surveyor, rifle sharpshooter, and carbine expert. He was honorably discharged on January 8, 1962. He then became a policeman, worked for a circus, worked on a fruit boat, was a cement truck driver, worked security for (Sir) John Templeton, and then for many years worked in car sales and as a car dealer manager, including running his own businesses. He helped sell his parents’ business. He loved the marketing aspect of business and was for many years the public relations arm of his wife Mary’s accounting businesses. He enjoyed mentoring his crew and, over the years, had attracted his own following of successful sales and management personnel. “Work” was a vital component to David’s life. He valued work and admired and recognized work ethic in others no matter what position they held. Upon retirement, he bought a hot dog cart that became a happy next life chapter, resulting in many new stories and friends, until an injury and subsequent surgery in April, 2011, caused him to become an incomplete quad.

In addition to his generosity and compassion, often expressed irreverently, he was a life-long learner. He excelled at armchair Jeopardy, trivia, and could nail an opponent with statistics and historical data. He had an issue remembering names but the names he made up for people were memorable.

David is survived by his loving wife Mary Heale; Daughter Debbie (Matt) Sanders from California; son Jeffrey (Kathy) Heale from Brighton, Colorado; son Scott (Cammie) Heale from Thornton, Colorado; step-daughters Kristin (Patrick Nana-Sinkam) Trost from Midlothian, Virginia and Colleen (Willie) Hayes from Centennial, Colorado; and step-son Eric (Carrie) Trost from Hartland, Wisconsin; sisters Cheryl Heale from Menasha, Wisconsin and Debra Heale from Pewaukee; sister-in-law Judy Heale from Austin, Texas; step-brother Steve Heale and step-sister Penny Kendell. Grandchildren Nick (Anna), Katie, Becky, Shazz, Aspen, Abbie, Emma, Willie aka Tre, Jackson, Marques, Bella, Addison and Josephina; great-grandchildren London and Diego, as well as several sisters and brothers in law and nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the physical therapists that worked with David in the last ten years of his life, including staff at St Mary’s Life Center (Grand Junction), Colorado Canyons Hospital (Fruita), Craig Hospital and NeuAbility Adaptive Center (formerly SCI) in Denver. We would also like to extend our gratitude to the great people at Millennium Transport of Grand Junction, Colorado and to Drs. Coffey and Hunninghake. Also special thanks to friend Don Girodo for building special pieces of adaptive equipment and much appreciation to the very kind and extremely capable paramedics of the Lower Valley fire District – Fruita.

Memorial donations can be made to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital at https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html?sc_dcm=58700006942402311&sc_cid=kwp&sc_cat=b&ds_rl=1285465&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxcSQh4ze8QIV-waICR2GXgeoEAAYASABEgKA1_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds