David Sears

David Sears, 76, died Friday, August 5, 2011 after a lengthy illness of COPD at the Atlantic Nursing and Rehab Center in Atlantic.

David had dreams in his youth of being a doctor. As that didn't materialize, his final act was to donate his body to Des Moines University. Services will be held at the end of the study, currently projected to be May, 2013.

Born in Des Moines, Iowa, David was the son of Robert and Hazel Walker Sears, and big brother to Roberta Louise (Penny).

With Union Park as his childhood playground from his home on East 9th, Dave graduated from East High School, in Des Moines. As a youth, "D.D." as Penny called him, was a swimmer, pianist, singer, dancer, and straight A student.

In 1957, David married Marcialee Pettey. To this union, three children were born: Kimberlee, Mark, and Stephanie.

Dave learned the trades of construction and real estate from his father, and worked in the family businesses for a number of years before careers at a Des Moines brickyard, and as a bartender and then owner of a Des Moines nightclub, Ernie's Urban Lounge, and the Capital City Knights football team. David's strength was his skill as a finish carpenter. A stickler for perfection in this area, materials in walls finished by him were invisible. He passed this knowledge on to his son, who is passing on to his two sons. To Kim, he encouraged curiosity and resourcefulness by frequently telling her to "look it up in your Funk and Wagnall."

David was preceded in death by his parents, Bob and Hazel, his daughter, Stephanie, and granddaughter, Alexandria.

Survivors include two children, Kimberlee Spillers and husband, Frank, of Atlantic; and Mark Sears, and his wife, Mona, of Des Moines; his sister, Roberta, of Austin, Texas; and five grandchildren: Burke Shouse and his wife, Amanda, Jordan Shouse and friend, Allyssa Wilson, Melina Shouse and friend, Zack Poyzer; and Nathaniel and Zachary Sears.

The family encourages body donation or gifts to the school of your choice to further medical knowledge, or to a hospice program in your area.

Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic, Iowa, helped the family with the arrangements.