David Errol Nash

With a wrench in one hand and a heart full of generosity, Dave Nash of Wolverine passed away peacefully at home at the age of 88. Known to many as the local go-to mechanic, a talented builder and an unofficial fix-it guru, he lived a life that was anything but ordinary.

Born in 1937 on Elvis’ birthday, Dave spent his days turning junkyards into treasure troves and scrap metal into masterpieces including his beloved buggy and big wheel. Whether it was a broken-down motor or a leaky faucet, he could fix it—often using only procured parts and sheer willpower. His motto was, "If it ain't broke, you're not trying hard enough” unless it was a Monday because he took Mondays off.

Beyond his mechanical prowess, Dave was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend. He believed in the power of community and was always ready to lend a hand—or a tool—to anyone in need without ever having an expectation of getting it back. In fact, he often simply gave things away if anyone had a need. His generosity knew no bounds, and his garage door was always open to those seeking help or a good story. He also had a knack for turning everyday objects into something extraordinary, proving that with a little creativity, anything is possible.

In his early years in his spare time, Dave’s passion was playing, coaching and umpiring softball. He even built a softball diamond so the Wolverine High School girls’ team would have a place to play. The softball tournaments that Dave organized for many years near the Dairy Barn brought teams from all over the state. As you can imagine, much fun was had. As a result of that fun, many of the teams were better Saturday than Sunday teams. He also loved horseshoes, euchre, and canoe races with his canoe he affectionately called Slow Motion.

Dave is survived by his loving family, a workshop full of any part you could ever need and a legacy of laughter and ingenuity. He will be missed by all who knew him, but his spirit lives on in the many whimsical projects that he had in mind but was unable to complete.

Left behind to cherish his memory are his loving wife of 64 years, Lavonna (Bonnie) Nash; his son Allen (Kelly) Nash; daughter, Carol (Carl) Cardinal; grandchildren, Denise (Mitch) Cardinal and Cody (Bekka) Cardinal; and great grandchildren Aurora and Odin Fischer. He is also survived by his sisters Marleah Muzyl, Shirley (Herb) Ashley and Nancy Detzler and sister-in-law Shirley Ashley as well as many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Dave’s life will be held at the Blue Ribbon Barn in Wolverine, MI on Saturday May 24th 2025, where his family will greet guests from noon until 1 p.m. A brief service will be held at 1 p.m. with refreshments to follow. Guests are encouraged to stay after the service and continue the celebration by visiting with one another and sharing stories of Dave’s life.