Dave Miyagawa

Some things are simply unmistakable. The low rumble of a Harley-Davidson. The body of a classic Corvette. And for those who knew David John Miyagawa, there was his warm, quiet smile. Dave was simply a pleasure to be around. He was kind and generous, quick with a joke or a good story, and happiest when surrounded by family and friends. He loved bringing people together, and he had a way of paying attention to the little things that made people feel loved.

Dave was born to Jim and Betty Miyagawa on August 19, 1956, and was raised in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He was the middle of three boys – his older brother, Jim, and his younger brother, Tom. They enjoyed their fair share of fun growing up, and Dave loved to reminisce about the trouble that sometimes came with it. One favorite story involved rigging a powerful carburetor onto a dirt bike to ride along “Cycle Hill,” a popular trail near his childhood neighborhood.

The Miyagawa family spent a lot of time outdoors. Dave was active in Boy Scouts, with his dad serving as Scoutmaster and his mom as a Cub Scout den mother. Some of his favorite early memories came from summer trips to Indian Lake in Dowagiac, where he and his brothers spent their days boating, fishing, and exploring.

Dave was proud to be an American, and his Hawaiian heritage was very special to him. His grandfather, George Miyagawa, came from Hawaii before it became a U.S. state and eventually made his home in Kalamazoo. In 1940, George opened George’s Appliance, beginning a family business that would span three generations. Dave’s father, Jim, took over the store in 1959, and eventually passed it on to his sons Jim, Dave and Tom. Dave genuinely enjoyed how the store allowed him to meet so many wonderful people in the community throughout his career.

Dave graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School in 1974 and went on to study printing at Ferris State College. He made lasting friendships there, and those friendships continued through many memorable golf trips and adventures over the years. After college, Dave worked in printing for a short time before returning to the family business. Never one to limit himself to a single pursuit, he also earned his real estate license in his spare time.

A sense of curiosity carried through nearly everything Dave did. If there was something he wanted to know how to do, chances were he would simply learn how to do it. He helped drywall and paint his home while it was being built. He worked on collector cars. He hunted pheasant, turkey and deer, mounted his own turkey trophies and became well known among family and friends for his delicious venison jerky. For many years, hunting trips to South Dakota and Iowa were traditions he looked forward to.

And then there were the cars.

Dave earned the nickname, “Mr. Corvette” because he owned 14 of them over the course of his life. He appreciated what made each one special, but he was never overly sentimental when a good deal presented itself. Dave’s philosophy was simple: “Everything is for sale for the right price.” With a natural business sense and a love of negotiating, buying and selling the cars seemed nearly as much fun for him as owning them.

His love for things with engines extended to Harley-Davidson motorcycles, including a prized Night Train model. And once he had grandchildren to entertain, his collection expanded to vintage pinball machines.

In the late 1990s, Dave met Marcia through mutual friends. While they were friends at first, Marcia was drawn to his warm nature – and it didn’t hurt that Dave had beautiful kind brown eyes.

They married at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Kalamazoo on December 22, 2000. Dave adored Marcia, whom he affectionately called “Red.” He was thoughtful about showing it, too. Holidays and special occasions came with carefully chosen cards and flowers: roses for their anniversary, poinsettias at Christmas, Easter lilies in the spring and a beautiful bouquet for her birthday.

It was so easy to see that Dave and Marcia shared a “once in a lifetime” type of love. More than anything, they simply enjoyed being together – cooking, listening to music, or heading somewhere with their precious pup, Maki. Dave loved all kinds of music, but he and Marcia especially enjoyed contemporary Christian music together. They built wonderful friendships with their neighbors in Kalamazoo, and their summer place in South Haven brought another circle of neighbors who quickly became dear friends.

Marrying Marcia also gave Dave something he had never planned on: four children. He embraced Jeff, Kristi, Katie and James wholeheartedly. Dave was proud of them and frequently told others how great they were. He never tried too hard to define his place in their lives. He simply showed up – quietly, consistently and generously. Somewhere along the way, “Marcia’s kids” became his kids, too – and he’d proudly say, “those are my kids.”

And then came nine grandchildren: Cale, Jaelyn, Elle, Oliver, Drake, Chloe, Sam, Vera and Gianni. Affectionately known as “Papa” to some of his grandchildren, Dave introduced them to the things he loved. There were model Corvettes and Corvette T-shirts, LEGO sets and some exceptionally cool water guns. The grandchildren brought out Dave’s playful side – and during family gatherings, he would often slip away with the kids to play pinball.

Dave and Marcia loved hosting their family, and their home became the setting for holiday traditions. Thanksgiving brought the annual “Battle of the Turkeys,” with Dave deep-frying one while Marcia roasted the other.

He appreciated a house full of family. A refrigerator stocked with his grandchildren’s favorite root beer. Friends gathered in South Haven. Kids crowded around a pinball machine. A family Christmas that was a little loud and chaotic. He noticed those moments, and perhaps that’s why he was often the one quietly taking pictures, capturing it all so he could appreciate it again later.

Sadly, a few months before his death, Dave suffered a stroke. He did his best to carry on and enjoy another beautiful Michigan summer while he and Marcia tried to navigate a diagnosis and treatment. His condition worsened throughout the summer, and Dave passed away unexpectedly at home on August 18, 2026.

Those who loved Dave will miss his quick wit, his stories and that unmistakable smile. We will remember his generosity, his quiet thoughtfulness and how much fun he could bring to an ordinary day. Dave treasured the large family he inherited when he married Marcia. But in the end, we were the lucky ones. We inherited him.

Dave will be cherished by his loving wife, Marcia Miyagawa. His stepchildren: Jeff (Stephanie) Buckham, Kristi (Drew) Neitzel, Katie (David) VandeVusse, James (Diamandi Padilla-Buckham) Buckham. His grandchildren: Cale, Jaelyn, Elle, Oliver, Drake, Chloe, Sam, Vera, and Gianni. His brother Tom (Mary Claire) Miyagawa. And many dear friends and neighbors.

Please join us for a Life Story Visitation on Thursday, August 27, 2026, 5-7 p.m. at Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (269) 375-2900 where food, drinks and stories will be shared. Services will be held on Friday, August 28, 2026, 12:30 p.m. at Centerpoint Church, 2345 N. 10th St. Kalamazoo. A reception will follow in the church hall and private burial at Mt. EverRest North Cemetery. Celebrate Dave’s life online by sharing your favorite stories and photos on his dedicated webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com. Memorial contributions may be made to Deacon Conference or SPCA of Southwest Michigan.