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David ‘Smokey’ Stover

GWINN, MI-David ‘Smokey’ Stover, of Gwinn, passed away on June 23, 2025 at the age of 79.

David was born in Arizona where he attended Washington and Sunnyslope High Schools. In 1962, he joined the Air Force and served for over 20 years, retiring in 1983. He had two oversea tours in Korea, one in Turkey, and a stint in Guam, working on B-52s.

In the States, he was stationed at bases from Washington to Florida, Michigan to California, and several places in between. In 1964, David was stationed at Truax Field in Madison, WI, where he met the love of his life, Anne Rogeberg. They had two children, son Chris, born in Izmir, Turkey, and daughter, Lisa, born at K.I. Sawyer AFB, MI. He had one granddaughter, and one great-granddaughter.

In 1984, Smokey went to work for Simmons/American Eagle Airlines as an aircraft mechanic. While working there, he was based in Marquette, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth and Sawyer International Airport as Director of Maintenance. He retired from American Eagle after nineteen years in 2003. In 2005, he went to work at Austin Straubel International Airport in Green Bay, WI, where he worked as a TSA supervisor for five and a half years, retiring ‘for good’ in 2010.

After retirement, he spent his summers riding his Harley Davidson motorcycles in the Upper Peninsula and all over the United States and Canada. He also spent a few winters snowbirding in Arizona during the coldest and most snowy time of the year in the U.P., towing his bike with his Corvette. David was also a lifelong fan of the Green Bay Packers (GO PACK GO), and NASCAR.

David is survived by his son, Chris Stover, of Gwinn; daughter, Lisa (Aaron Pristelski) Stover of Gwinn; granddaughter, Jenika Parkinson of Marquette; and great granddaughter, Anissa Nuckols of Marquette.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Mintie (Snider) Stover; his beloved wife, Anne Stover; and his siblings.

David’s family will greet relatives and friends on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 at Canale Gwinn Funeral Home and Cremation Services beginning at 10 a.m. A funeral service will be held at 12 p.m. in the funeral home with Rev. Ron Westman officiating. Burial will take place at the Gwinn Cemetery with military honors. A reception with a time of food and fellowship will be held from 2:00pm-4:00pm at the Gwinn VFW Post 5670.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in David’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Canale Gwinn Funeral Home and Cremation Services is assisting David’s family where memories and condolences may be shared at canalefuneral.com