David J. Van Etten

A viewing will be held from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Friday, July 11, 2014 at Palms-Robarts Funeral Home and Memorial Park in Sarasota, FL. Services will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, July 12, 2014 at the Chapel at Palms-Roberts Memorial Park with an immediate graveside service to follow.

He was born to Ronald and Leatrice Van Etten at Children’s Hospital in Buffalo, NY on 11/2/1958. David graduated from Kenmore East High School in 1976, Baptist Bible College in 1980, and American College in Bryn Mawr, PA in 1994.

He married Loretta Van Etten (née Wisler) in 1980 (deceased, 1988) and together they were active in the ministry and served as missionary appointees to Peru and Portugal. In 1983, they welcomed a daughter, Denae, into the world. While living in Noxen, PA, David ministered at Noxen Bible Baptist Church in the youth ministry. When Lori was diagnosed with cancer, the family relocated to Syracuse, NY where David served as Pastor at Manlius Baptist Church, as well as Chaplain to the Manlius Fire Department.

David retired from the ministry and worked in insurance and finance in Clarence, NY. In his free time, he volunteered for Harris Hill Volunteer Fire Company as an Emergency Medical Technician and Fireman. He was active in his community, running as the major party endorsed candidate for Town Supervisor of Clarence, NY. He also served as President of Camp Cherith of Western New York, a Christian girls’ summer camp. Dave fostered a passion for travel, and used this to run a cruise agency through the late 1990’s.

In 1999, David declared he was done shoveling snow from the driveway, and relocated to Sarasota, FL to de-thaw in the Florida sun. He further excelled with First Union, Wachovia, and Washington Mutual banks. Dave met Cherese Dennis in 2004, and together they spent ten wonderful years exploring not just their local Sarasota, FL, but all up and down the eastern seaboard, the west coast of the US, and many other places in between.

His entire life, Dave was a teacher at heart, regularly using his breadth of knowledge and experiences to offer guidance and education to those around him. In 2009, Dave turned this passion into a career as high school teacher in Manatee County, where he was able to pass on his love of history and government to his students.

In addition to the energy he devoted to his diverse careers, Dave filled every spare moment with adventure whenever possible. He devoted time to scuba diving, geocaching, plane-spotting, traveling the country, and photography.

In the last years of his life, Dave fought Acute Lympoblastic Leukemia. A recent check-up confirmed him to be cancer free +328 days after receiving a life-saving stem cell transplant from an anonymous donor through the National Marrow Donor Program.

David is survived by his daughter, Denae Van Etten (Fred Black) of Tallahassee; his loving companion, Cherese Dennis (née Bass) and her daughter, Ashley Greene; parents, Ronald and Leatrice Van Etten of Savannah, GA; siblings, Lawrence D. Van Etten (Sandy) of West Seneca, NY; Charles W. Van Etten (Midge) of Wellsville, NY; and Laura L. Bailey (John) of Cheektowaga, NY; loving fur-kids, Kaia, Spike, and Goober; and many nieces and nephews.

Dave leaves a gaping hole in this world from touching so many people in his too short life. The world is a lesser place without him, but he has been welcomed home by our Heavenly Father, and his impact will be forever felt by those who loved him here on Earth. Grief is not a sign of weakness, nor is it a lack of faith; it is the price of love.

Arrangements entrusted to Palms - Robarts Funeral Home & Memorial Park, Sarasota, FL.