David F. Brautigam

KINGSLEY — David F. Brautigam, age 87, of Kingsley, passed away peacefully, Tuesday, April 28, 2009, at the Grand Traverse Pavilions in Traverse City. He was born Feb. 10, 1922, in Lake Ann, to Fred and Neva (Alwine) Brautigam.

He married Dorothy Tomes in Kingsley on Sept. 26, 1941. Together they raised three children.

David was drafted into the United States Navy in 1944 during World War II and was at the landing in Okinawa.

David was a longtime member of Kingsley Baptist Church, where he served as a Deacon and Sunday School Superintendent. He was also a member of The Gideon of Traverse City, a volunteer Fire Chief and a Justice of the Peace in Kingsley for a few years.

David worked as a residential builder for over 50 years; he enjoyed woodworking, traveling, camping and deer hunting. He enjoyed music, sang in the church choir and played bugle for the Military Honor Guard.

David is survived by his wife of 67 years, Dorothy; children, Judith (Neil) Smith of Kingsley, Suzanne (James) Kirk of Otsego and David (Sally) Brautigam of South Boardman; nine grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; four sisters, Virginia (Arthur) Finzel, Eileen (Jack) Reamer, Marion Lesher and Beverly (Robert) Johnson.

David was preceded in death by his parents.

A visitation will be held today from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Covell Funeral Home in Kingsley. A funeral will be held Friday, May 1, 2009, at 1 p.m., at the Kingsley Baptist Church, with Pastor Mike Brayton officiating. Burial will take place at Evergreen Cemetery in Kingsley.

The family would like to express a special thanks to the staff in the Birch Unit at the Grand Traverse Pavilions for an their care and compassion, not only to David and Dorothy, but to the rest of the family as well.

Memorial contributions in David's name may be directed to the Kingsley Baptist Church, Grand Traverse Pavilions or Gideon of Traverse City.

Please share a memory of David at www.MeM.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Covell Funeral Home of Kingsley.

This obituary was originally published in the Record-Eagle.