David Ketchem

1931 - 2014

David Ketchem
7/17/1931 - 7/23/2014
PHOTO

David Lynn Ketchem, 83, passed away on July 23, 2014. Dave was born in Union Star, Mo. to Tom and Mariam Ketchem.
He was the fifth of seven children. He graduated from Savannah, Mo. High School in 1950, where he played football, baseball, and where he stood out in basketball as their 6'4", red-headed center. He then worked for Swift & Co. in St. Joseph, Mo.
Dave served in Korea as a tank driver in the 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. After returning to St. Jo he met and married Rosemary Ellsworth. When Dave was discharged from the Marine Corps in Treasure Island, he decided that San Francisco, Calif., was such a beautiful place. he and Rosemary moved there.
Upon arriving he opened a small butcher shop on 9th & Balboa. Where his country pork sausage was a favorite, using his mother's original recipe. For the bulk of his career over 30 years, he worked in the floor covering business as a member of the Carpet, Linoleum & Soft Tile Workers Local 12, and served on the Executive Board. Much of that time was at Coulter's Carpet Service in South San Francisco, Calif.
His passions were cooking for as many people as possible, his friends, and family, and trap and skeet shooting, and fishing at Buck's Camp in British Columbia. When his two boys were young, he made many a pancake breakfast at their Boy Scout Troup 258 in Pacifica, Calif. Dave was a 32nd degree Mason, a Shriner and Jester.
After his divorce, he and Ginger Straight become life partners and together they participated in and organized many Shriner and other events. Including as president of the Shriner Rod and Gun. And helping with the East/West games, and the Shriner's Children's Hospital.
When they retired to Auburn, Calif., they kept an active social life joining The Elks, The Tahoe Club, The Foothill Friends, and the Double Fives. Dave was known for the many dinners he would put on, sometimes for over 100 people. But the most requested was his "Barrel BBQ", Ribs, chicken and New York Strips smoked in a 50 gallon barrels.
He is survived by his sister Wanda Shupe, his companion Ginger Straight, his two sons and their wives: Brad and Evian Ketchem, and Greg and Rachele Ketchem, and their children Dylan and Amanda.