David Eliot DenBoer

David Eliot DenBoer, age 48, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving mother and father on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at 10:45 am at Trinity Health - Muskegon Hospital in Muskegon, Michigan. David is survived by his mother, Sue Ellen Rupp (Muskegon, Michigan) and father, David Carl DenBoer (Thunder Lake, Michigan); brothers Travis Yeats DenBoer (St. Louis, Michigan), Evan Demmink (Grand Rapids, Michigan), and sister Ashley Rupp Tompkins (Eric [Olympia, Washington]); grandmother Mary Ellen McFarland (Ada, Michigan); uncles Dale and Jim McFarland (Michigan), special aunts Helen DenBoer and Marjorie Decker (both of Clearwater, Florida); first cousins Melissa Long (Cincinnati), Molly Stuart and Josh DenBoer (California), and Jeremy Decker (Seattle). David was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, but primarily raised in Lowell, Michigan. David was an exceptional football player and earned varsity letters all three years for the Lowell Red Arrow high school team. He was then recruited by many colleges including Division 1 Tiffin University in Ohio and also Grand Rapids Community College, Ely Community College (Minnesota). He decided to attend Itasca Community College in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, and started all two years at inside linebacker. He led his team to the Minnesota Community College League championship game (they lost but David played well). He was subsequently named first time all-conference linebacker in the Minnesota Community College League, having once recorded 21 tackles in a single game over their arch-rival Ely Community College. A side note is that when he was recruited by Ely he turned them down because their coach told him that Ely only practiced without pads and in shorts. David thought that was ridiculous and only wanted to hit physically whether it be practice or a game. He graduated from Lowell High School and the two-year associates program at Itasca Community College. He was subsequently recruited again by four-year colleges but decide to end his football career and return to Grand Rapids, Michigan. David worked primarily in construction-related industries including demolition, fencing, and roofing. Although an exceptional football player David never talked about it much and turned to what he called his true love: baseball. He was an ardent fan of the Detroit Tigers and an avid collector of baseball cards. He always recognized the beauty of the game. His other passion was fishing and he became an expert bass and pike fisherman enjoying many days with his father and friends on Thunder Lake searching for whatever lurked beneath the green waters. He was a fiercely loyal person to both his family and friends and everyone felt safe around David because of his calm demeanor, quick wit, and loving personality. Let us leave with this: a verse from the band "The Decemberists" that reads––"Oh, my love, though out bodies may be parted, though our skin may not touch skin, look for me in the sun-bright sparrow, I will come on the breath of the wind." So when the wind tosses your hair, cools the back of your neck, or carries with it the scent of coming rain or a storm take a moment or two to remember David. He may be closer than you think. May God rest his soul and bring him the peace and lack of sorrow he deserves. Arrangements handled by The Walburn Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services, 1547 W. Sherman Blvd., Muskegon, MI 49441. Sign the online guestbook at https://www.sytsemafh.com