Obituary of David Alan Vermeersch

Dave was a father, boyfriend, brother, son and friend. He passed away at home at the young age of 51. He will be remembered for that mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "It's all Good." Dave was a welder, working in the fencing industry for several companies through the years. He was owner and operator of Gates Etc, LLC until he became too ill to work. He could build anything. When he got an idea in his head he would go right to work on it. The results were amazing. He had a love for flying. He went to A&P School at night after working a full shift during the day. He bought the plans and built his own airplane in his garage, A Van's RV-9A. For 5 years he would spend his nights and weekends in the garage building his plane. He moved the airplane to THUN FIELD on Thanksgiving Day 2007. With the help of his mentor, Harry Nelson, Dave finished it and flew it for the first time on Feb 16, 2008. June 2009 he bought a hangar at THUN FIELD. It was a bare hangar with one light bulb. You would never know it now. He often said he was going to sell his house and move to the hangar. He felt the most at home when he was at the airport. Dave started showing signs of ALS in Oct 2009, diagnosed in Oct 2010. He had to communicate with a boogey board and he got his point across by writing. Dave was confined to a wheelchair the last few months of his life but he still had the need for adventure. He started building an off-road wheelchair, "The Buffalo”. With the help of his friends, Harry Nelson, George Giboney, Paul Yarbrough and Tobey Schell he was able to finish it. He wanted to take it to Reno for the Air Races this year. The Buffalo is at the airport for his friends to enjoy. A few weeks ago Dave got to go on an airplane ride with his friend Jeff Bloomguist thanks to a hoist that Harry and Jeff rigged to lower Dave into the airplane. He loved chasing Anne's grandson's Todd and Wylie on their bikes with his wheelchair. Dave will be missed by everyone who knew him. He is survived by his girlfriend, Anne Martin; his son Cameron Vermeersch and fiancé Jenny Larsen; Sisters and brothers-in-law Cindy and Mike Sartore, Teri and Leo Robbins Brother and sister-in-law Tom and Sheri Vermeersch, sister Elaine Vermeersch; Mother Jean Short and his nieces and nephews. He is preceded in Death by his father Wilbert Vermeersch and his brother William "Billy" Vermeersch. There will be a Celebration of Dave's life on Oct 8th @ 12:00 at Thun Field, Pierce County Airport Spencer Aircraft 16911 103rd Ave So Puyallup, WA 98374