David North

David North, 67, of St. Ignace, passed away February 16, 2026, at Oak Hill Hospital, Brooksville, Florida, after a recent illness with numerous complications, compounded by Crohn's disease, which he had battled since 1979.

David was born to Walter and Sally North May 27, 1958, in Battle Creek, Michigan, where he was raised in a loving home. In 1966, the family moved to St. Ignace, where he graduated from LaSalle High School in 1976, as a member of the National Honor Society. He participated in 4H horse club, symphonic band, track and field, and cross country. He then worked in various occupations, including with ferry services to Mackinac Island, as part of which he became a Coast Guard licensed Merchant Mariner for 100-ton vessels. From 1983 to 1987, he lived in San Francisco, working aboard cruise ships in the Hawaiian and French Polynesia Islands, and in the cruise line's reservations office. He won a few sales contests, which resulted in being awarded complimentary trips, including a month in Europe with one of his housemates.

He then attended Washtenaw County Community College from 1989 to 1991, making the Dean's List. He lived at various times in Ypsilanti, Brighton, and Traverse City. Dave became a registered respiratory therapist, working in various settings throughout northern Michigan, as the core of his work career. From 2010 to 2012, he completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, Summa Cum Laude, from Ashford University. David returned for good to St. Ignace in 2015.

David spent his childhood adoring the Mackinac Bridge, Mackinac Island, and the entire Upper Peninsula. He was engaged in many volunteer work activities, including mentoring youth, Alcohol/Narcotics Anonymous, staffing a crisis hotline, Hope Chest, food distributions, and animal rescues. Despite his health challenges, Dave continued his volunteer work and beyond that, helped innumerable people in need. He persistently engaged in his passions throughout the entirety of his adult life, family, playing music (especially guitars), boating (both by power and sail), domestic animals and pets of all kinds including horses, cats and dogs, auto restoration, gardening, and numerous others. His music genres included Christian praise, Motown, Rock, Blues and Country. He performed with 31 bands total, and also as a solo performer. He learned to play seventeen different instruments and sang as well.

David was a friendly person of incredible kindness and compassion towards both people and animals. He could not turn his back on anyone in need, if he could possibly do anything about it, and if he couldn't, he would find someone who could. In later years, he spent a couple winters in Arizona, and then several in a small home he purchased in Florida. In mid-life, he became a Christian and was very active the rest of his life in St. Ignace United Methodist Church, and during winters, Mariner's Church of Brooksville, Florida. He founded a praise band at the Methodist Church and often volunteered to play music for residents of local nursing and assisted living homes. He engaged in many other forms of church activities as well. David met Linda Senogles in 2018, the love of his life and domestic partner, until she, as well as one of his brothers and sisters in law, were able to be with him during his final hours.

David is survived by his partner, Linda Senogles of St. Ignace; adult son, Ryan North of Brevort Lake; and brothers, Thomas North of Burt Lake and St. Ignace, James (Kim) North of St. Ignace, and Michael (Mary Joe) North of Savannah, Georgia.

David has been cremated, and a memorial service will be scheduled for spring of this year in St. Ignace.

The family is unable to receive flowers or plants, and in lieu of those or otherwise, memorial contributions may be directed to David's only child, Ryan North, in care of any of his brothers, or to LaSalle High School of St. Ignace, for the band program.

Family as submitted by family.