David Eugene Wightman

David Eugene Wightman, 77, passed away in Holt, Michigan on August 14, 2026. Dave was born on April 24, 1949, in Mason, Michigan to Donald E. and Alice F. (Miller) Wightman. The oldest of Donald and Alice's four children, Dave grew up on the family farm learning how to take care of the farm animals and working in the hay fields. Dave loved Arabian horses and participated in the Ingham County 4-H Horse & Pony program. As an adult, Dave gave back to the 4-H program volunteering as a project leader, mentor, and judge for still life and photography projects.

Dave was a jack of all trades with a genuine desire to help others and an insatiable curiosity about how things worked. He graduated in 1975 from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Science from the College of Education with a specialization in Industrial Arts. He began his career with Montrose Public Schools, where he taught shop and other vocational subjects during the day and spun DJ tunes at school dances on game nights. In 1980, Dave moved back to the family homestead in Mason, where he began building his own house and continued working in vocational education through SpeedyPrint, STOP Printing, and Highfields, later becoming a regular substitute at the Wilson Talent Center. During his off hours, Dave single-handedly designed and built his house in Vevay Township doing most of the construction with his bare hands while utilizing repurposed materials. Dave held a deep appreciation for art and architecture and was an avid Frank Lloyd Wright enthusiast; he especially admired how Wright incorporated natural light and environmental settings into architectural design – principles he incorporated into his own home design.

Outside of the daily grind, Dave enjoyed photography and freelanced as a professional photographer for weddings, portraits, and events including while chaperoning his daughters’ high school band trips. Saturday mornings often found Dave and Traci developing and washing film between cartoons.

In the 1990s, Dave picked up a computer repair hobby and helped numerous friends and family members with fixing or building computers. During this same time, Dave became the President of Capital Area Fathers for Equal Rights and passionately pursued lobbying efforts at the Michigan State Capitol for family court reform while helping many families navigate the custody process. Dave was the leading expert witness with all matters in family court and testified multiple times in front of the State Legislature to push for a fairer legal process. Dave shifted his professional career in the 2000s to full-time computer repair and service. He worked for Sky-Tech Computers, then purchased Geeks To Go, LLC in 2006 which he operated full-time until he retired in 2017.

Anyone who knew Dave could tell you that he was a stranger to no one and a five-minute visit could last well into the evening hours. Dave had a clever sense of humor and told stories, brainstormed to solve problems, shared his vast expertise, and was a genuine listening ear. Dave loved his family deeply and was always willing to lend a hand or give a hug whenever he was needed. Over the course of Dave's life, his family grew through birth, marriage, adoption, and the blending of families. Some of those relationships defied simple labels and endured long after the circumstances that first brought them together had changed, forming a large, complicated, and deeply interconnected family.

Dave is survived by his daughters, Traci Wightman & Sarah (David) Brown; son, Chris (Dawn) Eastway; sons of his late wife Phyllis whom he helped raise, J.J. ‘Jack’ Schrader and Richard (Juan) Schrader; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; brother, Mark (Anajinky) Wightman; sisters, Betty (John) Argersinger & Kathleen “Kay” Stillwagon; longtime friend, Margaret Beall; plus, many nieces, nephews and other extended family members. Dave was preceded in death by his parents; nephew, Michael Argersinger; many aunts, uncles, cousins, and loved ones; Dave’s lovely Arabian mare, Rose; and the love of his life, Phyllis A. (Schlosser) Wightman who courageously battled cancer and passed in 1992. Her death profoundly affected Dave for the remainder of his life.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 27, 2026, between the hours of 4 pm until 7 pm at the Ball-Dunn Chapel of the Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home, 621 S. Jefferson Street, Mason, MI 48854.

The funeral service will be held on Friday, August 28, 2026, at 11 am at the funeral home. Family will greet visitors beginning at 10 am until the funeral service.

Interment will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery, Mason.

The family would like to thank the dedicated staff and caregivers of Divine Living (formerly Prestige Way) in Holt. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial gift to any of the following organizations:

Mason Band Boosters, PO Box 194, Mason, MI 48854

Horses’ Haven, PO Box 166, Howell, MI 48844

Ingham County 4-H Horse & Pony Project: ICFF, 700 E. Ash St, Mason, MI 48854

Instructions:

If mailing a check to Ingham County 4H, designate for Horse & Pony Council In memory of David Wightman.

For the Michigan 4H Foundation in the “comments or instructions” Text Box:

County: Ingham

Horse & Pony council

In memory of David Wightman

***All three memorial links are located below***