David Von Tersch

David Von Tersch, 18 of Denison, died Saturday morning, Dec. 31, 2005, at the University of Omaha Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident.

David Michael Von Tersch was born November 30, 1987, the son of Dale and Teri (Tollette) Von Tersch.

David was born and raised in the Houston area of Texas. While growing up, he enjoyed putting together model airplanes and playing many sports, especially baseball, having played on the Sugar Land Little League All-Star Team. He often made summer visits with brother, Nathan, to the Von Tersch family farm south of Denison.

He had fun playing on the hay bales, jumping on the trampoline, and getting into all types of mischief. In the fall of 2004, David moved to Denison, Iowa, where he lived with his father and step-mother.

He was currently a senior at Denison/Schleswig Community High School. While attending school he was a high school cadet student, which involved helping out in Mrs. Andersens first grade classroom. He contributed his talents to helping at the Head Start Child Imagination Station. He was involved with the outdoor education program at Nelsons Park where he chaperoned overnight camping trips for sixth grade students. He enjoyed playing basketball with his friends at Tuckers Park.

Outside of school, David was most recently employed by Petersen Manufacturing in Denison, where he worked in the production area. In addition to this, he spent countless hours helping his father with various projects such as cutting wood, remodeling, and landscaping on his fathers acreage south of Denison.

David died early Saturday morning, December 31, 2005, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident on Friday night, December 30, 2005. At the time of his death he was 18 years old.

David will be most remembered by his family as one who liked socializing with friends and family on the phone. He always had a smile and a hug for whoever was willing to receive it and his laugh was infectious to those around him. Because David was born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (a bone condition), he is also remembered by his toothless smile as a toddler and the ever present casts caused by fractured bones.

David was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Eugene Von Tersch.

Those remaining to cherish his memory include his father and stepmother, Dale and Carolyn Von Tersch of Denison, Iowa; his mother and stepfather, Teri and David Zepeda of Sugar Land, Texas; paternal grandmother, Verta Mae Von Tersch of Denison; maternal grandparents, Charles and Frances Tollette of Pasadena, Texas; two brothers, Nathan Von Tersch and Shane Zepeda of Sugar Land, Texas; four step-sisters, Katie Malkey of Houston, Texas, Allison and Melanie Malkey of Denison, Iowa, and Cynthia Zepeda of Sugar Land, Texas; five step-brothers, John, Paul, David, Thomas and Robert Zepeda of Sugar Land, Texas; many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

A Memorial Prayer Service, led by Father Edward Murray, was held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, January 7, 2006, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Denison, Iowa. Music for the service was provided by the St. Rose of Lima Youth Choir singing, Be Not Afraid, You Are Mine and Shepherd Me O God with Sherri Freml serving as accompanist. Following the service everyone was invited to join the family at the parish center for a time of remembering and refreshments prepared and served by the St. Rose of Lima Ladies Guild.

A funeral mass was celebrated at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, January 4, 2006, at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Sugar Land, Texas, with burial in Sugar Land.

The Pfannebecker Funeral Home in Denison was in charge of local arrangements.