Dave Chrest

With a warm smile and a welcoming heart, David Chrest lived a life rich in family and friends. Dave welcomed each moment as a gift and treated everyone as a treasured friend. He listened with care and went out of his way to make sure people felt comfortable. He embodied the principles he believed in, choosing persistence in the face of adversity and choosing unconditional love and hope at every turn. He had unwavering faith in the goodness of others and believed there was no such thing as a lost cause. A beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, Dave will long be remembered and so very missed.

1944 marked a time when all American lives were directly impacted by the war effort in Europe, where David’s father Charles was serving as an infantry rifleman. As the nation looked toward peace, Charles and Lorraine Chrest celebrated their own hopes for the future as they welcomed their son David on September 6 in Chicago, Illinois.

The Chrest’s’ oldest child, Dave was born while his father was away serving in the U.S. Army and didn’t meet his dad until he was nearly two years old. After completing his service, Dave’s father supported his family by working as an engineer for the Pullman Company. Charles' father and grandfather also worked for the company. Dave’s mother was a homemaker who tended to the house and children.

Growing up in the Roseland Pullman area of Chicago, Dave was a great big brother to his sisters, Sharon, Susan, and Sandra. As a teenager, Dave had a series of cars purchased at the junkyard and fixed up. They never seemed to last long, but when they failed, he would go out and buy another one. Dave graduated from Fenger High School in Roseland and was a member of Roseland Mission Church.

While at church, he had the good fortune of meeting his future wife, Pat, who found Dave to be tall and handsome. When they first started dating, Pat was sixteen, and Dave was seventeen. Her father knew Dave had a reputation of being a fast driver, so he always made sure to tell Dave to “drive carefully with my daughter.”

The happy couple married at the Roseland Mission Church on May 2, 1964, and were blessed to welcome four children to their family. Their son David and daughters Michelle, Melissa, and Marie were the centers of their worlds, and Dave and Pat devoted themselves to providing them with a loving and supportive home in the south Chicago suburbs.

Dave made a living in sales. His exceptional sense of humor, genuine enjoyment of people, and love of talking made this his natural skill set, which made him a gifted salesman. Over the years, he sold several products and services, which often took him away from home. Education was extremely important to Dave, and while working full-time, he also attended school at night, eventually earning his degree from National College of Education.

A supportive father, Dave was a good listener, and many fond memories were made in the motorhome as the family traveled to great destinations such as Disney and Yellowstone. A big sports fan, Dave also bonded with his kids while cheering on his beloved Chicago sports teams. He followed the White Sox, Bears, Blackhawks, and Bulls his entire life. For years, he also played 16” softball. Dave also enjoyed traditional Swedish foods such as Swedish pancakes, potato sausage, and pickled herring.

A longtime A.A. member, Dave’s long sobriety was supported by his willingness to actively participate in the fellowship by sharing his experience, strength, and hope with others; he and his family enjoyed the gift of his sobriety since October 1999. Dave was never afraid to give a hug or tell people, “I love you.” and he never held a grudge. His favorite saying was “unconditional positive regard,” which was one of the reasons people felt so comfortable with him. With four close calls with death over the years, Dave appeared to be a man with nine lives. In time, a variety of health issues and memory challenges required him to slow down and lean into Pat’s loving care, which allowed him to live all of his days within the comforts of their home.

A powerful role model for how to live a wholehearted life, Dave’s legacy of faith, hope, and love will surely live in the hearts of those he so dearly loved. In each moment we cheer on our loved ones’ endeavors, welcome a stranger as a friend, embrace others’ struggles with grace and generosity, listen with compassion and kindness, and choose to see the best in others, we celebrate the countless ways Dave made the world a better place. In this way, we keep his loving spirit alive and inspiring others as he so inspired us.

On the morning of June 18, 2024, David was called home to be with his Lord and Savior. Members of his family include his wife, Pat; 4 children: David (Nancy) Chrest, Michelle (Vincent) Henderson, Melissa (Matt) West, Marie (Steve) Gunn;12 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; and 3 sisters: Sharon (Rick) Schomburg, Susan (James) Kuehl, Sandra (Chris) DeLuca. He was preceded in death by his grandson, Ethan.

Please join us at a Life Story Visitation where food, drinks, and stories will be shared on Friday, June 28, from 2-4 PM at Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (269) 375-2900. A time of sharing will be held at 4 PM. Celebrate David’s life online by sharing your favorite stories and photos on his dedicated webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com.