TRAVERSE CITY -- David Erickson passed away Oct. 31, 2009, at Munson's Hospice House after a brief struggle with cancer.
Dave was born Feb. 26, 1936, to Eldon "Stub" and Ruth "Ann" Erickson in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1948 the family moved to Traverse City, where Dave then attended Traverse City High School. During that time his family owned and operated The Sunset Cabins located on Fair Street in Traverse City. Dave's father Stub was a pharmacist at Cunningham Drugs, which was located where the Mackinac Brewery sits downtown today.
Dave graduated from TCHS in 1953 and attended University of Michigan to study engineering. In January 1959 he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in the 551st Engineering Platoon at the Panama Canal for two years. Dave worked for Perla-Stout Engineering Survey Company when returning from the service, and in 1963 went to work for Parsons Corporation.
In 1964 Dave married Sandra Brownlee of Suttons Bay. In 1971 Dave and Sandy welcomed the birth of their only child, Paula Sue Erickson.
Following Parsons Corporation sale and move to Stockton, Calif., in 1971, Dave joined Lance G. Look, Joseph O'Hare, and Herb Moseley to form L.O.M. Corporation. Throughout the years, Dave and Lance designed and fabricated stainless steel helicopter main rotor blades as well as other flight structure related items. Dave became the sole proprietor and owner of L.O.M. Corporation upon the death of his partner Lance G. Look. In 1985, L.O.M. Corp. was sold to Michael Rogerson, who moved the company to Port Angeles, Wash., to become part of the Rogerson Hiller Corporation. Dave made great efforts to take many of his employees with him to Port Angeles, and those who chose to remain, he worked diligently to find each person a new job before leaving for Washington.
In 1992 Dave retired from Rogerson Hiller, and he and Sandy moved to Seattle to be closer to their daughter Paula, who was attending the University of Washington. In 1995, after Paula's graduation, Dave and Sandy returned to Suttons Bay, where they have since resided in Sandy's family home.
Dave was a beloved father, husband, son, uncle, great-uncle and boss. He leaves behind his wife, Sandra (Brownlee) Erickson; his daughter, Paula Erickson; mother-in-law, June Brownlee of Suttons Bay; sister, Judy (Maynard) Chaussee of Midland; sister-in-law, Nikki (Wess) Harris of Gay, W.Va.; brother-in-law, David Brownlee of Traverse City; nephews, Scott (Cindy) Chaussee of Traverse City and Ryan Doyle of Las Vegas; nieces, Sharyn Chaussee of Mesa, Ariz., Kari (Tom) Tonkin of Rapid City, S.D., Heather (David) Fenkle of Monmouth Junction, N.J., and Michelle Stagman of Traverse City; great-nephews, Zachary Chaussee of Traverse City, Calvin Tonkin of Rapids City, S.D., and Sam Fenkle of Monmouth Junction; and great-niece, Anna Fenkle of Monmouth Junction. Finally he leaves behind his best friend of over 50 years, William S. Gregory of Suttons Bay.
Dave was preceded in death by his parents, Eldon "Stub" and Ruth "Ann" Erickson; father-in-law, Winston Brownlee; and nephew, Kevin Chaussee.
An informal open house is planned for Sunday, Nov. 15, from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Erickson residence, 215 North St. Marys Ave., Suttons Bay. Friends and family are welcome to come and pay their respects. A private family ceremony will be held on Nov. 14 at Memorial Gardens to lay David's ashes to rest near his parents and grandmother.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Munson's Hospice House or the local Humane Society.
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