David Strachan, 75 / Jan. 2, 1935 — Nov. 20, 2010
Published 10:01 pm Monday, November 29, 2010
David Charles Strachan, 75, of Hospital Road, Cassopolis, died at 5:15 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010 in the arms of his daughter, Gwen Nelson, with the caring staff of Cass County Medical Facility nearby.
David Strachan, 75
He was born Jan. 2, 1935 in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada to Alexander and Lily (Schubert) Strachan. He graduated from Yreka (Calif.) High School and attended college in Elko, Nev.
He was a veteran of the Korean Conflict, serving in the United States Air Force, and then drove for Greyhound Bus Lines for 26 safe years. He had lived in this area since 1995.
David’s greatest interest was horses. He owned and operated Strachan Appaloosas, including Last Finale W, a nationally ranked stud who is known by his stable name, “Bill.” David was a member of the Western Michigan Appaloosa Horse Club and a life member of the National Rifle Association.
He had a great appreciation for the equestrian activities of Pastor Pat Robertson, and came to know Jesus through the “The 700 Club.”
David was proud of his family’s history, which includes Catherine O’Hare, well-known in western Canada as a pioneer to that territory. He also enjoyed movies on history, Westerns and “Star Trek.”
He was previously married to the former Lena Murphy.
Surviving family includes his children, Gwendolyn Gaye (Dale) Nelson of Niles, Andrea Jean (Jack) Strachan-Okell of Elko, Nev., Brian Alexander Strachan of Birmingham, Ala. and David Curtis (Mary M. Stevens) Strachan of Springfield, Mo.; grandchildren, Mark (Kim) Nelson, Justin and Jeramy Strachan and Tristany, Dane and Kayllee Strachan; great-grandchildren, Abigail, Madelyn, Angel, Marie, Elise, Amelia, Rylie and Haylie; his sister, Jeannette (Bob) Gough of Seattle, Wa.; one niece; two nephews; and a former daughter-in-law, Kimberly Shorter-Kakunes.
Services for David Charles Strachan were held at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 27, 2010 at Halbritter Funeral Home for a procession to Silverbrook Cemetery, to meet a horse-drawn wagon for the final journey to the grave for services by Pastor Jeffrey L. Whittaker of Michiana Christian Embassy.
The service concluded with full military honors by an honor guard of the United States Air Force and American Legion Post 51, Buchanan.
The family received friends and relatives from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 26 at the funeral home.
Contributions in memory of David may be made to the patient activity fund at the Cass County Medical Care Facility.
