David L. Sponseller

10/02/1931 - 09/25/2025

David L. Sponseller (Big Sponnie, Dave the Rave, DLS, The Big Fella, Lake Effect Dave, The Mayor of Antietam Court, Papa Bear) died peacefully at age 93 in his Ann Arbor home on September 25, 2025, at 3:30 p.m., surrounded by his wife, sons, grandson, and granddaughter.
Born on October 2, 1931, in Canton, Ohio, to Martha Bonnot and Lester Sponseller, Dave was the fourth of six children alongside siblings Rosemary, Marjorie, Bill, Jean, and Joan. His epic working career kicked off at the tender age of six when he began delivering the Catholic weekly Universe Bulletin, a route he inherited from his beloved older brother Bill followed by a paper route for the Canton Repository that he continued until his graduation from Lincoln High School. He had a great love for Lincoln and stayed in close contact over the years returning frequently to participate in reunions and to showcase his singing voice when the opportunity presented itself. As a young man he distinguished himself in the Boy Scouts, earning the Eagle Scout Award.
He graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Notre Dame in 1953 with a Bachelor of Science in Metallurgy. He then served in the U.S. Navy through ROTC, spending two years aboard the battleship USS Missouri and the aircraft carrier USS Bennington, followed by two years teaching engineering at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He earned his Ph.D. in Metallurgy from the University of Michigan in 1962 and taught engineering at the University of Notre Dame.
By providence Dave met his wife Mary Anne Fitzmaurice on a Catholic youth outing when he found himself among a group that was piling into Mary's car to get to that night's destination, the bowling alley. It was love at first sight, and they married in 1955. Their marriage was blessed with seven children: Paul, Bill, Anne, Robert, Ed, John, and Tom. To celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary, Dave and Mary embarked on an ambitious month-long European trip with their children in a Volkswagen Vanagon. Dave and Mary enjoyed 57 years of married life together before Mary's passing in 2013.
Dave's Catholic faith was fundamental to his identity and he passed it on to his children. He lived his faith boldly and was an active and generous defender of the right to life, not only in his family life but also as a participant in public advocacy. His pride and joy after raising his own children were his 21 grandchildren: Matthew, Nina, Nicholas, Genevieve, Joe, Liz, Martha, Michael, Livia, Stephen, Allison, Trevor, Zachary, Thomas, William, Henry, Kaitlin, David, Jack, Rhiannon, and Fintan. Through his marriage to Kathie, Dave cherished his five step-grandchildren Harrison, Kylah, and Leo (children of his step-daughter Kerry); and Liana and Braxton (children of his step-daughter Kelli). He was further blessed with nine great-grandchildren (Maxine, Leo, Noah, Louis, Lily, Violet, Griffin, Bennett, and James).
After earning his PhD Dave taught metallurgy before joining Climax Molybdenum Lab in 1965, developing high-strength alloys for jet engines and the energy industry. Ahead of his time in reducing his carbon footprint he commuted to the Climax offices on his green Schwinn bicycle in all weather, fair or foul. In 1987 he left Climax to found his own independent testing company, OMNI Metals Laboratory in Ann Arbor which he ran for 38 years. Never one to retire while there was still work to be done, he ran OMNI right up until the end of his life. His professional accomplishments included 6 patents in metallurgy, over 50 publications, and regular participation in national conferences, where he presented research and served on committees.
A lifelong lover of music and especially vocal performance, Dave sang in the Notre Dame Men's Glee Club and the choir at St. Thomas the Apostle Church. He performed at his children's and grandchildren's weddings and other occasions, always eager to share his voice. As Scoutmaster of St. Thomas' Boy Scout Troop 8, he was immensely proud that all six of his sons earned the Eagle Scout Award. Dave embraced his German heritage, teaching himself to speak German and listening to Deutsche Welle on his shortwave radio. He also was passionate about playing ice hockey on Thurston Pond, earning his fifteen minutes of fame in an Ann Arbor News article about his skating exploits titled "The Iceman Testeth Thurston Pond."
In 2015 Dave began a new chapter of his life when he married Katherine NoeltnerDavis of Sunbury, Ohio. Kathie matched Dave's boundless energy and optimism as they enjoyed over 10 years of married life together and travelled the world while continuing to run OMNI Metals lab. Kathie supported him through a 10-year battle with bone marrow cancer, helping him stay upbeat and healthy during the most difficult period of his life. Kathie's love of travel rubbed off and just a few days before Dave's passing they had returned from a ten day trip to Scotland.
Dave is survived by his wife, Kathie; sons Paul (Amy, deceased), Bill (Bethany), Robert (Piera), Ed (Amy), John (Katie), and Tom (Marie); daughter Anne (Ken); step-daughters Kerry Davis and Kelli Hunt, his 21 biological grandchildren, his five step-grandchildren, and his nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his siblings Rosemary, Marjorie, and Bill, wife, Mary, and his daughter-in-law, Amy, wife of his son Paul.
Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Ps 127:1.
Rest with God, our dear Papa Bear!
Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 2, 2025 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Nie Family Funeral Home, Liberty Road Chapel (3767 W Liberty Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48103). Memory sharing will be held on Thursday, October 2nd 2025 at 6:00 PM at the same location, with a Rosary to follow at 7:00 PM. A funeral service will be held on Friday, October 3rd 2025 at 10:00 AM at the St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church (530 Elizabeth St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104). Visitation will begin at 9:30am. A luncheon will be held following the burial at the same location.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Family Life Services of Washtenaw County.