David John Davidsen

David John Davidsen was born June 6, 1941 to June and Theodore Davidsen in Brush, Colorado. After the death of Theodore during WWII, June moved to Arizona with two-year old David and later married Lynn Shumway. David grew up in Mesa and graduated from Mesa High School in 1959. He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints from 1960-1963 in Central America. David married Alta Shupe in 1964 in the Mesa, Arizona Temple. He graduated from Arizona State University with a Masters in Education and taught Spanish for Mesa Public Schools 29 years. After retirement he worked at Mesa Community College in the tutoring department for fifteen years. David passed away at the age of 74 at Banner Baywood Hospital in Mesa, Arizona on January 19, 2016 as a result of heart and kidney complications. He passed away peacefully, surrounded by family. We are grateful for the care David received from the ICU medical team this past week. David is survived by his wife of 51 years, his children Lisa Brown, Kyle (Claudia) Davidsen, and Sally (Fred) Ruhland, and ten grandchildren: Ashlee (Scott) Spencer, Shanell (Kevin) Boyster, Jordan Davidsen, Chelsea Brown, Tara Ruhland, Tiffany Brown, Trent Ruhland, Dallin Davidsen, Hailey Brown, and Carson Davidsen, along with great-granddaughter, Jade Boyster. He is also survived by his father, Lynn (Dorothy) Shumway, and siblings: Linda (Dale) Miller, Janet (Tom) Graff, and Andy (Colleen) Shumway. David was preceded in death by his mother, June Shumway and sister, Judy Lee. Services will be held at the Heritage Park Ward building located at 235 West Tenth Avenue, Mesa on Friday, January 22 at 3pm; a viewing will take place one hour prior. Burial will take place on Saturday, January 23 at 8am at the Mesa City Cemetery located at 1212 North Center Street.