David Gilbert Marquardt, Jr. Obituary

David Gilbert Marquardt Jr., beloved husband, brother, uncle, and friend, passed away on December 25th, 2023, at the age of 77.

Dave was born on April 18th, 1946, in Dayton, Ohio. He was a long-time resident of both Troy and Higgins Lake, Michigan. He graduated from Hillsdale College in 1968 with a BS in Biology. Drafted by the army, he served in Vietnam from 1970 - 1971. For most of his life, he worked as a realtor in the Detroit area. On September 12, 1998, he married his longtime partner in love and adventure, Kathleen Donahue.

Dave was game for any fun or adventure. A lifelong downhill skier, he traveled to the mountains of Colorado, British Columbia, and the Alps, where he jumped out of helicopters into the powder below. A talented waterskier, he loved telling the story of skiing through the lagoon at Higgins Lake, waving to the stunned beachgoers on the shoreline. On the tennis or volleyball court, Dave was a fierce competitor, never wishing to concede a single point. On the dance floor, Dave was the best of partners, athletic and sparkling with finesse. He was the first one out on the floor and the last to leave.

Dave was meticulous and attentive. His projects were undertaken with care and precision. He loved decorating his big Christmas tree every year, loading it down with ornaments that he had carefully curated over the years. Dave liked to forage in the woods, gathering greens to make wreaths, apples for sauce and pies, or wild blueberries for his mom’s blueberry muffins. Always competitive, he would make sure that his bucket was more full than anyone else's.

A gregarious and social man, Dave was always on the hunt for a party, a gathering, or even just a chat. If he saw a campfire down the beach, he’d stop by to see what was up. While sailing, he liked to swing past other boats to wave hello. At the end of Christmas celebrations, he lingered by the doorway for one more story, then two more, then maybe ten more. Dave wanted to know people. Walking through the neighborhood with his dog, he stopped and chatted with everyone. A lifelong friend to many, Dave kept in touch throughout the years. He was always delighted to see a familiar face, tell the old jokes, and revisit the old stories.

Dave is survived by his wife of 25 years Kathleen Donahue Marquardt, his sister Jeanne Marquardt Meier, his brother Jim Marquardt (Tammy), his nieces, Lissa Meier (Roger) and Taylor Andrus (Matt), his nephews Andy Meier (Stacy Feng), Paul Chambers (Jen), Chris Chambers (Courtney), and great nieces and nephews, Ali, Morgan, Parker, Logan, and Strider.

We love you; we’ll miss you.

A service for Dave will be held at A.J. Desmond & Sons, 2600 Crooks Rd., Troy, Michigan, on December 30th. Visitation begins at 10:00 a.m., with sharing of memories from 11:00 - 12:00.

In lieu of flowers, Kathleen has requested that donations be sent to Parkinson’s Movement Center, 1889 Rosemont Rd., Berkley, MI 48072.

https://www.desmondfuneralhome.com/obituaries/David-Gilbert-Marquardt-Jr?obId=30200602