David P. Skarp

David P. Skarp, 74, of Battle Creek, unexpectedly left his earthly family on December 23, 2016 to live with his Heavenly Father. He and his entire immediate and extended family had just arrived in Sarasota, FL for the Holidays. His family had enjoyed a two-and-a-half day car caravan ride together, during which Dave enjoyed the exchanging of grandchildren riding with him at every stop. Daughter Jennie drove his car, which gave them a few very special days of conversation.

Dave was born on April 22, 1942 in his family home in Comfrey, MN. He was the third of five boys born to Oscar and Marlowe Skarp. As a very young boy, his family moved to Boyd, MN where his parents owned a mercantile store. He grew up sorting potatoes and fruit, making 'Skarp Sausage,' soaking lutefisk, and delivering newspapers. In high school, he learned the difficult skill of linotype, and worked for many years for newspapers in Boyd, MN; Utica, MI; and Colon, MI, earning money to pay for his B.A. college degree. He attended Moorehead State, St. Cloud State, and graduated from Concordia Lutheran College in River Forest, IL in 1967. Earning his Bachelor's degree took him seven years, as he worked his way through school. Dave attended graduate school at Northern Michigan University in Marquette, MI, living in a 13' camper with his wife, Evelyn. After many summers of coursework, Dave earned his M.A. degree in Elementary Administration in 1974.

During his linotype job in Utica, MI, he met the superintendent of Colon Schools, who held a 4th grade teaching job for him in Leonidas, MI, until his graduation from Concordia.  While teaching in Leonidas, he met his future wife, Evelyn Williams, who lived in Athens. They married on April 5, 1969 at Factoryville Bible Church. In 1963 he was hired by the Battle Creek Lakeview School district to teach 6th grade at Highland Junior High. After Highland closed, he transferred to Westlake Elementary where he taught 6th, 5th, and 4th grades until his retirement in 2004. He truly cared for each and every one of his students. Dave and Evelyn taught together for fourteen years at Highland, and side-by-side at Westlake for 14 years. They enjoyed being a team.

Dave was a 6' 6 1/2" gentle giant who had countless interests: family always came first; writing; reading; gardening; painting; biking; antiques and antique jewelry; traveling to Disney World; crossword puzzles; singing; and collecting anything having to do with Santa Claus. Dave loved everything having to do with Christmas.

He biked in several week-long trips around Michigan, was a recreational swimmer, and ran several 5k races in Southwest Michigan, as he attempted to regain he strength after surgery to repair a ruptured disk in his back. He participated in the Goguac Lake Swim, coming in last by 20 minutes, but he finished it! He had a lot of fun stalling at the end as the race winner was a former student who couldn't receive his medal until Dave crossed the finish line.

During his 42-year membership at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Battle Creek, Dave served many functions, including elder, usher, Sunday School teacher, choir member, and Bible School teacher. Dave and Evelyn were the youth group leaders at St. Paul for many years in 1980s. Recently, Dave transferred his membership to St. Mark Lutheran Church, where he took great pleasure worshipping with his entire family, typically followed by Sunday dinner at Cracker Barrel.

Dave had a big heart, which manifested itself through a variety of nice gestures geared towards his wife, family, and students.

Dave married Evelyn Willams at the Factoryville Bible Church in Athens, MI on April 5, 1969. She survives. He is also survived by his treasured children, Jennifer (Dave) Sandel of Battle Creek, MI and Benjamin (Sheri) Skarp of Athens, MI. The lights of his life were his four grandchildren, Ethan David Sandel, Ellie Marian Sandel, Caden Benjamin Skarp and Amelia Evelyn Skarp. He is also survived by his four brothers, Tom (Carol) Skarp of Missouri, and Alan (Lois) Skarp, Jim (Dee) Skarp, and Dan (Linda) Skarp, all of Minnesota. Three of the five Skarp boys and their wives recently visited Sweden, in an effort to research their lineage.

Dave was preceded in death by his parents, Oscar and Marlowe Skarp, parents-in-law Maynard Williams and Marian Williams Henckel, and twin grandsons Gabriel and Noah Skarp.

The family will receive friends 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., Friday, January 6, 2017 at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 114 E. Minges Rd., Battle Creek where funeral services to celebrate Dave's life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 7, 2017. A private burial will follow at Burr Oak Cemetery in Athens. Donations may be made to Our World for Children at St. Mark Lutheran Church, or to the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation. Arrangements by Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care. Personal messages for the family and/or favorite memories of Dave may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.