David Bosto Tooker, 81, went to be with his Lord and Savior on June 21, 2021, surrounded by his loving family at their home in Traverse City. He was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on July 7, 1939, to Bosto S. and Ernestine V. Tooker and grew up in Parchment.

Dave was a 'young' 81-year-old with a quick wit and desert-dry sense of humor. He could shoot you a look from across the room that told an entire story with his eyes and a sly smile.

The first 48 years of his life can be highlighted by his time studying Zoology at Michigan State University. Later, as an officer in the United States Navy, he served six tours in the Pacific during the Vietnam War. After his service, he moved to Alden, Michigan, where he enjoyed raising Spanish Mustang horses and was actively involved with St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Elk Rapids, MI. In later years he and his wife Kim enjoyed worshiping at Feast of Victory Lutheran Church.

It was at St. Paul's where David met and married Kim M. Muncey on May 16, 1987. Shortly after that, the two started a family, giving birth to their son, Joshua, in 1988 and daughter, Sarah, in 1989. Dave and Kim first settled with their children in Beulah, Michigan, where they owned and operated the John Marshall Insurance Agency for more than 20 years, and in 1997, moved to Traverse City to be closer to Kim's family in Elk Rapids.

A few consistent themes spanned throughout David's life, the support and love of family being most important among them. He also had an appreciation for nature instilled as a young boy in part from the cane-pole and fly fishing that he did with his father and grandfather in Southwest Michigan. This love and respect for nature were passed down to his children and reinforced with their family camping trips to National and State parks throughout the United States during the kids' formative years.

Like many people of his generation, he was prideful, but he wholly represented what it means to be a servant leader throughout his life. He demonstrated humility as he always sought to learn more about his family by studying their ancestry, and more broadly, the world and those around him. Much of the openness to learning more came from the teachings of Jesus Christ. To complement his faith, he was a voracious reader, which was evident by the physical imprint he left on 'his side of the couch.' This led to a desire to better understand History and an intellectual curiosity that expanded his worldview – especially into his later years. It was especially telling that he could challenge his existing assumptions and learned to admit when he was wrong.

While Dave's dry sense of humor endeared him to his closest family and friends, more importantly, he did not hesitate to genuinely share with his family and friends how much he loved them. In recent years, Dave enjoyed spending time with his granddog, Nova, and he was reinvigorated by the birth of his first grandchild, Hadley Miller, while very much looking forward to the birth of his grandson Talan.

He is loved by his family and will be deeply missed on this earth for his service, love for family, humility, and intellectual curiosity. David is survived by his loving wife of over 34 years, Kim; their children Joshua (Courtney) Tooker and Sarah (Kenny) Miller; his granddaughter Hadley Miller and future grandson Talan Miller and many beloved extended family and friends. Dave was preceded in death by both his parents, Bosto and Ernestine; his older brother Richard; and his mother and father-in-law: Barbara and Jim Muncey.

Dave was cremated shortly after passing on to his Heavenly home to join his Lord and Savior based on his wishes. A memorial service will occur at 12 pm on August 21, 2021, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Elk Rapids.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Dave's honor be made to any of the following: St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, The Equal Justice Initiative, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, or Feast of Victory Lutheran Church.