September 20, 1958 ~ March 3, 2025
David Robert Erickson died March 3, 2025, in the loving arms of family and staff at the Oceana County Medical Care Facility. David was born September 20, 1958, to Marjorie Jean Field and Douglas Lee Erickson in Hart, Michigan. He being the third child born to this marriage. Jane Elizabeth and Paul Douglas being his older siblings. Marge and Doug had purchased her grandparents’ home on Church Street in Hart, Doug able to walk to Powers to work, and Marge a stay-at-home mother. The family lived an idyllic life in Oceana County with dozens of cousins, grandparents, and a strong sense of family. Summers camping in Pentwater in the big tent, perch fishing and hiking Old Baldy. David's love for Pentwater was forged early, and he stayed faithful for life.
The family was struck with Doug falling ill, and Marge was left to raise the three children alone. In 1967, fate gifted Mother with a strong man, LeRoy Don Peterson. He being in need of a life partner, they married that June. He brought with him three children also. Earl LeRoy, Kittie Evelyn and Judy Ann. The families blended perfectly, with David still being the youngest. That meant a move from town to the farm out on the Walkerville Road. Sweet and sour cherries, acres of woods and the beautiful Pentwater River to spend hours hiking, biking and hunting. Horses in the barn, tractors and learning the life of a fruit grower. Don was a successful fruit grower, and brother Earl soon began his Custom Cherry Shaking business. Working the cherry harvest on the shaker crew, David forged many friendships that are strong to this day. He was an athlete at Hart High School, earning his letters in wrestling, often pitted against a good friend from a rival school in the West Michigan Conference.
As a young man, David bought Art Henry’s spray truck and worked long hours spraying crops. Along with that, he signed on with the Western Geophysical survey crew. Oceana County was being explored heavily for natural gas, and this was the beginning of his career as a Landman. David took the classes necessary to become a licensed Real Estate agent, and began a fruitful career representing many utility and exploration companies in the procurement of minerals and rights-of-way. David knew Michigan like no other. His work took him to nearly every courthouse in Michigan, searching the records to perfect titles and execute leases. His vast knowledge of counties and geology served him well. He traveled to other states for work, sometimes towing his Rinker speedboat to explore places like Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana and the Mississippi River.
Uncle Dave settled in his beloved Pentwater, living in a custom home by Charlie’s Marina. He moored his beautiful Formula there and would often take a crew out for a moonlit ride on Lake Michigan. He was an avid water skier as well as a snow skier. He made many a trip to the slopes in northern Michigan and out west to Heavenly Resort at Lake Tahoe. He took up snowboarding and loved the powder. Uncle Dave was well known around the village, having many fondly call him “Uncle Dave.” He could shoot pool with the best of them and had his custom cues.
David was preceded in death by his fathers, Douglas and LeRoy Don. He is survived by: his mother, Marjorie; his sisters, Jane (Ray) Sequin, Kittie (Tom) Osborn, and Judy (Doug) Kurzer; his brothers, Earl (Linda) Peterson and Paul (Stacia) Erickson. Having no children of his own, he was a special Uncle to: Amy Sequin, Kittie (Kade Swenor) Tuinstra, Abe (Tonya) Kurzer, Peter (Annette) Kurzer, Stacy (Matt) Fornier, Theresa Osborn, Sarah (Eric) Schlukebir, Aaron (Jennifer) Peterson, Mark (Gaby) Peterson, Jake Erickson, Michael (Krista) Erickson, Nate AndresMooi, Ethan (Kelly) Poppaw-Andres and Justin (Alexandra) AndresMooi.
A Celebration of Life will be held July 27 in Pentwater at the Channel Lane Pavilion, from 1-5 p.m.
