David E. Cormier

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Lasso the sun is what I want to do,
Shine the light upon your face.
Shine the light upon the love I have for you,
Even when life gets in the way.
We wait and it goes on, weather darkly calls your name.
Hangs on 'til it burns off and it's summer once again.
And let the stars become a guide for you,
when you can see them through the clouds.
The storm it breaks and when it does
It will let everything fall into place.
But you're always warm
Always warm...
-from the song "Always Warm" by Dave Cormier
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David E. Cormier, 61, died on January 9, 2026, from glioblastoma that first appeared in April of 2025.
Dave was born to Phil and Alice Cormier on December 28, 1964, in Wakefield, MI. He was preceded in death by his parents; and sister-in-law, Eileen.
Dave is survived by his beloved wife Joy; daughters, Hannah and Sage; sister, Alisa (Rich) Roberts; brothers, Chris (Marion) and Keith (Dervala); close friend and lifelong bandmate, Mike Movrich; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Dave met Joy, his longtime love, in 1981 while she worked at the Bessemer Inn. Dave was enamored with Joy and quickly became a regular customer, always ordering fried chicken and a chocolate malt. Before long, their budding romance blossomed and Joy would keep a watchful
eye on the parking area, hoping to see Dave arriving in the iconic yellow plow truck from Cormier's Service. Once dating, they would frequent Angelo's Pizza, and over the years they became avid foodies excited to sample dishes on their adventures near and far. Dave and Joy celebrated their 34th wedding anniversary last October.
After graduating from Wakefield High School in 1983, Dave continued his education at the University of Minnesota in Duluth and Minneapolis.
Throughout his life, Dave's passion was music. A talented performer, he enjoyed playing guitar, singing, and songwriting. He performed in numerous bands and toured the country for several years before returning to the area with Joy in 1990 to start a family.
The lights of Dave's life were Joy and their daughters, Hannah and Sage. He and Joy were steadfast and devoted partners to each other and he beamed with pride for his daughters.

Alongside his musical endeavors, Dave brought his creative sensibilities to wide-ranging vocations like furniture restoration, woodworking, vintage salvage art, and leading a large clothing print shop. Dave connected with audiences as a musician, and as a leader, his kindness and support touched many of his crew. For the past 14 years, he was part of the maintenance staff at the Gogebic Medical Care Facility.
Dave loved to get out of town to "see some things" and especially enjoyed road trips to the East Coast, driving with Joy to visit Hannah and Sage in the New York Metro area.
Dave's longtime band name was broken:man, but he was anything but broken. Dave selflessly and tirelessly cared for his mother, Alice, throughout her long, complex illness, skillfully advocating for her during extended hospital stays and health challenges.
Dave was a beloved member of our small community who touched so many lives whether he was parenting, joining fellow musicians in the theater community, helping friends and family, or quietly mentoring younger people. As the family mourns, we're struck by the sheer number of
loving condolences being shared with us from far and wide.
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Let's just leave the glass half full
And let it be the way we roll.
Make our square one where we land
And do the best with what we have.
-from the song "All We Got" by Dave Cormier
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The family wishes to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Dave's medical teams at St. Mary's Essentia Health and Miller Dwan Intensive Rehab in Duluth. We are deeply grateful to the neurosurgery team and especially Dr. Dino Terzic, whose skill, compassion, and remarkable humanity brought comfort to us throughout this challenging time.
Dave leaves behind a legacy of video recordings of himself performing his original songs on YouTube. Dave's music can be enjoyed at www.youtube.com/@ruintime
A celebration of life will take place at a later date. Cremation has taken place.
Jerald Rocco, owner and manager of Lakeside Memorial Chapel Inc., Wakefield, is assisting the family with arrangements. To send online condolences or to share a memory, go to: lakesidememorialchapel.com.