David Looper Sr.

On September 19, 2021, David Looper, Sr. passed away peacefully in Reno, Nevada (NV), surrounded by family. Dave was born to Eldred and Nellie Looper (Morris). He was a graduate of Marysville High School in California (CA), and known as an athletic baseball player, and for his love of waterfowl and upland bird hunting, and for his ability as a skilled auto mechanic.

During Dave's senior year in high school, he secretly eloped on April 2, 1951, with his childhood sweetheart, Irene Fischer, where they drove to Reno, NV and were married. For more than 70 years, their entire marriage, Dave affectionately called his wife Irene his "bride" as they shared a lifetime of love and life together. Dave and Irene recently moved to Reno, NV to be closer to their adult children and to celebrate their 70th Wedding Anniversary.

Dave and Irene raised their family in the Sacramento, CA area, where Dave worked for Aerojet in Rancho Cordova for 30 years, a rocket and missile propulsion manufacturer. During his career at Aerojet, Dave went back to college and earned an Associate of Science degree in business from American River College.

Throughout his life, Dave shared his love of sports, the outdoors, hunting, music, and travel with his family and friends, but his first love was for his wife Irene and their family. Dave had many adventures with his family, camping all over the U.S., including Alaska. Dave loved lake and fly fishing, and tying his own flies. He hunted deer, elk and antelope across the western states, packing into Selway Drainage, Idaho and Moab, Utah in the early 1960's.

As a sports enthusiast, Dave learned to play the game of golf and encouraged his wife Irene to learn also. Dave and Irene both played many years of golf together and participated in local golf tournaments with their golfing friends and community. Dave also shared his love of golf with his grandchildren by teaching them how to drive the golf cart. Dave was known and called "Grandpa" by all his grand kids, but will be affectionately remembered as "El Presidente."

During the duck and upland bird hunting seasons, you could always find Dave, with his beloved hunting dogs Peaches and Nellie, out on a local northern CA wildlife refuge. But some of Dave's fondest hunting memories were teaching his youngest grandson how to bird hunt and teaching his grand-daughters backyard fishing techniques.

Dave loved traveling with his wife Irene to Europe, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, and the lower 48 states throughout their retirement years. He enjoyed attending annual bluegrass and jazz music festival events, and local cultural events like the Marysville Bok Kai Parade and Yuba City Sikh Festival. Dave enjoyed gardening and always grew roses for his bride Irene, making fresh cut rose arrangements for her weekly.

Dave Looper, Sr. enjoyed a good long-life, well lived, and will be remembered as a wonderful son, brother, husband, father, grandpa, great-grandpa, uncle, cousin, and friend to all who had the privilege to know him. He will be greatly missed and dearly remembered. Dave was preceded in death by his brother, Joseph Looper and Joann his spouse. Dave is survived by his wife of more than 70 years, Irene Looper; his three children, David Looper, Jr. (Ricky, spouse), Susan Looper, Bill Looper (Linda, spouse); his grandchildren, Paul Looper (Merissa, spouse), Lauren Fenley (Quinton, spouse), Chelsea Looper, Brian Looper; his great-grandchildren, Kaylee Looper and Zoey Fenley; his sisters, Judy Mihanovich (Looper) and Sharon Looper; his cousins, Neil Thomas, Lorene Landreth, Jodene Wallace, and Berry Warren; and his many nieces and nephews, whom he watched over and mentored, and called him Uncle Dave.