David Garwood

David B Garwood, 71 years old of Edwardsburg, passed away March 26, 2021 at his home with family by his side. David was born Dec. 8, 1949 in Niles, the son of Donald French and Eva Mae (Blanchard) Garwood and lived on a farm in Penn Township for over 23 years, and at Diamond Lake for several years. He attended Cassopolis High School and was two years on the Honor Society. He attended SMC at Dowagiac and earned an A.A.S. Degree from Ivy Tech in Indianapolis as Summa Cum Laude (4.0). He served a five year apprenticeship, and was a journeyman, altogether serving in the sheet metal industry for over 37 years. David served in the US Army 82nd Airborne Division as a paratrooper and tank mechanic. He also served one year in the Michigan National Guard, Armory Division, Dowagiac, MI. David loved doing home projects, gardening every summer, cookouts, playing guitar for a rock band and also for the Church Services and Southern Gospel Concerts. He loved to raft, canoe and kayak, especially the Pine River in Michigan. Not only did he like to play basketball and softball in his younger days, but also was an official in football, baseball, and softball for the Michigan High School Athletic Association for over 12 years. David was a member of Our Lady of The Lake Catholic Church, Edwardsburg, for over 40 years. At Our Lady of The Lake, he participated in the guitar folk group for over 25 years, a guitar quartet for 2 years, a Choir, Funeral Dinner provider, helped clean the church for a period, taught CCD for 3 years (7th and 9th grade Confirmation), loved to participate in Bible Studies, after Mass coffee and donuts and spaghetti dinners. He served as Cursillista in the South Bend and Kalamazoo Diocese Cursillo Movement since 1977. He served as Newsletter Editor, Rector, Lay Director and School of Leaders for the South Bend Cursillo. He helped the Kalamazoo Cursillo, was a Rector of Weekend #62 and also a Secretariat as Weekend Chairperson. David was married to Lynn Browne in 1973, lived and raised a family in Edwardsburg for over 20 years before meeting the love of his life, Dawn Cochran, whom he married Dec. 29, 1995. They lived together in Edwardsburg until his passing. Dawn survives with his sons, David B. Jr. (Lisa) Garwood and Samual R. Garwood with stepchildren, Corey (Abby) Fietzek and Kimberly Fietzek (John) and 7 grandchildren? Joie, Jenna, Kendyl, Madelyn, Jonathan, Samantha and Shaun. Also surviving are three brothers, Donald C. (Diana) Garwood, Michael G. (Lynne) Garwood and Mark F. Garwood and two sisters-in-law, Patty Garwood and Sheri Garwood. Other survivors are nieces Lauren, Kelly, Anne and Dana, and nephews, Tyler, Christopher, Eric, Neal, Jr. and Gage. Family who preceded David in passing are his parents, a step-son Scott Fietzek and brothers, Robert L. Garwood and Neal R. Garwood. Cremation has taken place. There will be a Memorial Gathering for family and friends on Monday, April 5, 2021 from 5:00-7:00 PM at Our Lady of The Lake Catholic Church, 24832 US-12, East, Edwardsburg. The COVID-19 Mandate to wear face masks and social distancing of 6 feet will be in effect. The Memorial Mass of Christian Burial Rites will be on Tuesday, April 6, 2021 at 11:00 AM in the Church, with one hour of visitation before the service, with Rev. Raj J. Nathan, pastor and assisted by Father Dan Hyman. At the end of the service, the United States Army Honor Guard will play TAPS and fold the American Flag, with the Edwardsburg American Legion/VFW doing the firing squad. At a later date, the final inurnment will be at Fort Custer National Cemetery, Battle Creek. Memorial donations can be made in honor of David to the "Diocese of Kalamazoo" and write "Cursillo" on the memo line or simply give to a Cancer Charity of the donor's choosing. A final word in my eulogy, "For those in my life that I have offended, please grant me forgiveness, as I am truly sorry to have hurt you." Arrangements are by the Paul E. Mayhew FuneralHome, Edwardsburg, Michigan