David John Horvath

Although his life was filled with many exciting things, it was his children that gave David Horvath his greatest joy. He was hard working and meticulous, and later in life he took great pride in tending to things around the house. David was blessed to share much of his life with his true love with whom he created so many precious memories. He was a courageous man with a quiet strength who fought bravely when engaged in the fight for his life. A man of great intelligence, David brought so much light and life to the world around him. With what would seem to be his best years yet to come, David’s bright light was extinguished much too soon.

The year 1954 saw more wives moving back into the workforce and a growth in the economy. Television programs included the popular Father Knows Best while Marlin Brando starred in two of the most popular movies, On the Waterfront and The Wild One. This year also featured Bill Haley’s “Rock Around the Clock” and the explosion of Elvis Presley with the release of his first album. This was a year for great celebration in the family of Francis and Ardena (Seyka) Horvath since it was on November 26th that they welcomed the birth of their son, David John. Born in Lansing, Michigan, David was the youngest of three children in his family including his brother, Timothy, and his sister, Patricia. When he was very young, he was raised in the family home on a small farm that included a pig, cow, and other small farm animals. Like many young boys, David enjoyed riding his bike and playing outside. On one occasion while riding his bike, David claimed he saw a U.F.O., and he always got a good laugh while sharing the story with his family. Even as a young boy, David was quiet and reserved and although he enjoyed spending time with his family, he also treasured his solitude.

There were many interests that David established during his formative years that remained with him throughout his entire life. He liked ice fishing as a young boy and also learned to hunt. He and his siblings used to go out pheasant hunting with their father, and it was their job to scare up the pheasants so their father could shoot them. David enjoyed hunting deer the most. He attended St. Therese Catholic School in Lansing during his elementary years and went on to Lansing Catholic High School. The academic portion of school was never something David really cared for much as he made it clear that recess and lunch break were his favorite times of the day. He applied himself in subjects that interested him, however, and acquired a lot of what could be viewed as “useless information,” but he could recite these little known facts at the drop of a hat. Because of his bits of stored information, David was very good at playing along with Jeopardy, and he had a tremendous vocabulary, which is perhaps why he enjoyed doing crossword puzzles.

Life was forever changed for David when he met a young woman named Pam. She was just 17 when they met and they dated for a brief time. Although they soon went their separate ways, their paths crossed again many years later. It was in the 1980s that David reconnected with Pam and after falling deeply in love, they were united in marriage on May 20, 1989. They built a home in St. Johns in 1991 where they raised their children: Billy, Bradley, and Bethany. Throughout the construction process, their family did much of the work. They also had a family cottage at Lake of the Pines in Farwell where the family spent such treasured times together. Although David was somewhat strict while his children were younger, he relaxed a lot as they got older. He loved being a father and as he got older, he enjoyed watching his children play sports. More recently, David was looking very forward to being a grandfather to his daughter’s unborn baby, Malina.

Throughout his life, there were so many things that David enjoyed. He loved to play golf, especially during the sunset of his life, and this became one of his favorite things to do with Pam after their children were grown. The couple also played a fair amount of cards together as they were both very competitive by nature. David was a big Michigan State University fan and enjoyed classic rock and bands from the sixties and seventies like Led Zeppelin, The Who, and The Rolling Stones. David liked gardening later in life and during the past couple of years, he became the person who took care of everything at home like the cooking, cleaning, and household maintenance. He was also sure to have dinner waiting for Pam when she came home from work everyday. David was very handy when it came to fixing things around the house but since he was a true perfectionist at heart, it always had to be done right. Not surprisingly, he took meticulous care of his things as well.

In October of this year, David and his family were given a tough pill to swallow when he was diagnosed with cancer. Pam was constantly by his side throughout his illness, even staying with him for two weeks at a time without ever leaving. The fight eventually became too much for David, and he drew his last breath surrounded by his family.

There was rarely a time that David Horvath wasn’t busy doing something and it often involved his family. He was a loving husband and attentive father who really came into his own later in life. David leaves behind a beautiful history that will be carried on by the children and grandchildren who will one day grace his family tree. His memory will be forever cherished.

David John Horvath died December 20, 2010. David’s family includes his wife, Pam; children, Billy Hayes of Lansing, Bradley Hayes of East Lansing, and Bethany Horvath of St. Johns; granddaughter-to-be, Malina; brother, Timothy (Mary) Horvath; sister, Patricia (John) Buker; nieces and nephews; and his best buddy Homer. David was preceded in death by his parents. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., on Thursday, December 23, 2010, at The Osgood Funeral Home in St. Johns. The family will receive friends at the funeral home, 6-8 p.m., on Wednesday, and one hour prior to the service on Thursday. Pease visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a memory, sign the online guestbook, and make a memorial contribution to The American Cancer Society.