BORN

1942

DIED

2019

FUNERAL HOME

Lux-Moody-Wolfel Funeral Home - Alma

531 N State St.

Alma, Michigan

David McMacken Obituary

If you are reading this, it means I am dead. I passed over on July 8, 2019, as a result of a battle with cancer. A memorial service will be held Thursday, July 11, 2019 at 11 am at the Alma First Church of God. Interment will be in Oak Grove Cemetery, St. Louis. Visitation will be held Wednesday from 5 to 8 pm at the Lux-Moody-Wolfel Funeral Home and Thursday from 10 am until time of service at the church. I was born on March 14, 1942, at Smith Memorial Hospital in Alma, MI, to Florence (Schrock) McMacken and Charles H. McMacken. I grew up on the family farm at Crawford in southern Isabella County and attended the Lincoln Center one-room school. I attended the Strickland Baptist Church and committed my life to Christ at a young age. In 1959 I graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School where I was influenced to become a writer by my 10th grade English teacher Tom Northway, a natural writer. After obtaining a liberal arts degree from Central Michigan University in 1963, I decided I wanted to teach and added the necessary credentials. My first and only job was as a teacher of composition and literature to juniors and seniors at Alma High School for 40 years. I added a master’s degree from CMU in 1966. I was married to the AHS librarian Virginia Helman on June 16, 1973. It had taken quite a while to get the marriage arranged, since I was a slow starter, and many sighs of relief accompanied this event. Perhaps there would be grandchildren after all! Aha! Fooling one and all, we were blessed with three children all of whom survive me: Megan (John) Rock of Chesterfield, MI; Gavin (Lindsey) McMacken of Midland, MI; and Jordan McMacken of Alma, MI. My grandchildren include: Sela, Evan, Gemma, and Ian Rock and Gideon McMacken. I am also survived by a sister-in-law Marlene Helman of Saginaw, MI, and a dear friend David Westlake of Winston-Salem, NC. Besides becoming a teacher, I became interested in local history, and thus began a series of talks and research relating to Gratiot County and cemetery art which resulted in thirteen books and more than 250 history presentations statewide. I also enjoyed working with my collaborator Tom Schupbach on numerous articles for Michigan History Magazine. My other collaborators included the late Louise Davenport and the late Gordon Beld. I enjoyed writing history scripts for Friends of the Alma Public Library. These included numerous cemetery impersonations for a devoted group of thespians (it’s fun to dress up). I also wrote scripts for special “days” such as Republic Truck Day, Made-in-Alma Day, the Centennial Titanic dinner, the Beginning of World War I dinner, the Opera House Block open house, and other events. I also gave an “Evening in the Park” summer talk for 40 consecutive years. I had the privilege of recording renovations on the Opera House Block, truly one of Michigan’s special buildings, with more than 5,000 photos, and I became intimately linked to that edifice from its cellars to its skylights. I served on the St. Louis Cutler Memorial Library board for 20 years, and the boards of the Gratiot County Community Foundation, the Pine River Arts Council, and the Alma Community Arts Center. I was honored with the Spirit of St. Louis award in 2008. Virginia and I were awarded the Friend of the Foundation award in 2016. I was active in church work, serving on committees, teaching Sunday School, and working in children’s programs. My favorite spot to enjoy was any sandy beach on Lake Michigan where I could contemplate both the beauty and mystery of the lake. After retiring in 2005, I also enjoyed building stone walls and designing steel sculptures for our ever-expanding flower gardens. I grew to dislike monkeys, perhaps because of a mounting resemblance as I looked in my mirror. I collected books on Virginia City, NV, and the Comstock Lode, where, at age 15 in the Nevada desert, I nearly fell into an unguarded mine shaft which certainly would have cut short any future endeavors on my behalf. I also collected more than 100 books on the Titanic and was a member of the Titanic Historical Society for forty years. All of these activities are overshadowed by my pride in my wife, children, and grandchildren, and most of all reliance on my faith in my Savior. Now I truly understand these precious words from II Cor. 5:8: “Absent from the body; present with the Lord.” I hope you will too. If you think my memory is worth it, gifts may be made to the McMacken Family Fund at the Gratiot County Community Foundation where they will begin doing good things for the Gratiot community. Or, if you like a good book, the Alma Public Library or the St. Louis Cutler Memorial Library would be pleased to accept your generosity. To view David’s obituary or to leave a condolence for the family please visit www.luxfuneralhomes.com.

Published by Morning Sun from Jul. 8 to Jul. 9, 2019.
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Mr. McMacken prepared me to appreciate the great accomplishments of humankind, especially literature and poetry. At AHS, we read "Rappaccini's Daughter" through which he taught literary elements in a way that opened my mind to critical and creative thought. As such, I have him to thank for an enriched and widened world view. I know he touched many other AHS students in this way.

Nancy Christensen

School

July 27, 2021

It saddens me to learn of Mr. McMacken's passing and I am not surprised that he wrote his own obituary. As I look back at the course of my life there are many people who influenced who I am today, I have been truly blessed with many special mentors. Mr. McMacken was one of those people. As sophomore in his English class I was a disruptive punk. He took the time and helped me to develop as a student and gain confidence in my abilities. Mr. McMacken was the kind of teacher that could change the course of a student's life. He changed the course of mine for the better.

July 11, 2019

Mr McMacken was an excellant teacher He will be missed by all that knew him RIP Sending condolences to his Family

Karen Gross

July 9, 2019

So Sorry! He was my Class mate!

July 9, 2019

So sorry to read Mr. McMacken has passed. I had him for English my junior year. He was a wonderful teacher and person. These past years I had enjoyed reading his articles about the history of our county. My condolences to Mrs. McMacken and family.

Linda Oswald

July 9, 2019

Where have the years gone? I remember David from going to School at Lincoln Center on Crawford Road and think of him every time I drive by the McMacken farm on Blanchard Road. Our teacher, Mrs Farrington would be so proud.
Ruth Ann Wieferich Martin

July 9, 2019

Virginia, Megan,Gavin and Jordan,
What a jewel of a man Dave was! His presence will be missed by many.
Ron and I are so very sorry to learn of his passing and we send our deepest sympathy to all of you. We also rejoice with you that Dave is in the presence of the Lord!!!
We, and the guys, have great memories of Dave. His contributions to the music ministry during our time there were always welcomed and appreciated. Whatever Ron asked him to do, he did with excellence.
He was a wonderful, entertaining teacher when the guys were in school. I'll ever forget Ryan coming home from his 1st day in Dave's class, telling us how Dave spent the first 15 min. of class time explaining why "we don't mess with the thermostat in the room"!! Ryan loved it! He won him over as a teacher right off the bat (believe me, that was hard to do).
Know that we'll continue to lift all of you up in prayer.
Sincerely,
Ron and Jackie Woolsey

July 9, 2019

Mr McMacken (I could never dream of calling him Dave), was my favorite teacher.. He definitely will be missed. Peace to him & his family

Janice Edwards

July 9, 2019

Virginia, we are sorry for your loss, happy for heaven's gain. We often think of all the Strickland folks that Dave and us grew up with....they are rejoicing, most of all Florence, Charles, Otis, Nellie, Treva... We know you will find comfort in the Lord and He will bless you and carry you through this. Bob and Ginny (Howland) Curtiss

Virginia Curtiss

July 8, 2019

I'm sad to see your passing but I so loved reading your entry. I can't imagine reading about your life or your many accomplishment any other way than in your own words. May your loved ones find peace in the amazingly memorable and full life you've shared with so many.
Warmest Regards,
Christy (Rauschenberger) Stilwell
AHS Class of 1996

July 8, 2019

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Jul

10

Visitation

5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Lux-Moody-Wolfel Funeral Home - Alma

531 N State St., Alma, MI 48801

Jul

11

Visitation

10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Alma First Church of God

200 W. Superior, Alma, MI

Jul

11

Memorial service

11:00 a.m.

Alma First Church of God

200 W. Superior, Alma, MI

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Lux-Moody-Wolfel Funeral Home - Alma

531 N State St., Alma, MI 48801

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