David Joe Michalski

David Joe Michalski, age 68, of Copemish, Michigan, formerly of Stalwart, Michigan, died on June 23, 2018 at his home. He was born on April 16, 1950 in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, to Stanley Peter and Virginia Bell (Rice) Michalski. David grew up in Stalwart and graduated from Pickford High School. He joined the United States Army and served for 6 years. After returning from the service, David started worked at Robinson Fence Company, then went to work at Drummond Dolomite quarry. While raising his children, he worked for Pipe and Piling and started driving truck for Graham Trucking where he received his Certified Driving License. He met Valerie Sue Olmstead and with one smile it was the start of forever. They married on August 23, 1987 in Montrose, Michigan. A few months later, they moved to Copemish and added to their family. Throughout the years, he worked for construction companies and drove gravel train trucks. For the last 28 years, David was owner and operator of his own over the road truck. He retired from the over the road trucking in June 2016. Then he worked for Precision Paving for a year when he was diagnosed with stage 4 inoperable pancreatic cancer in August 2017. David was a member of the Raber AMVETS. David enjoyed hunting, fishing, and canning. He loved to watch westerns, including Gunsmoke, Bonanza, and Death Valley Days. He also like to tend to his vegetable garden and keeping his lawn and apple, peach, pear and plum orchards in pristine shape. David is survived by his wife, Valerie Michalski of Copemish; children, Jennifer (Bryan) Murphy of Gladwin, Michigan, Scott (Patricia) Michalski of Stalwart, Emily (Kevin) Sharp of Sault Ste. Marie, Nikki (Max) Romeri of Marshall, Michigan, Valanie Michalski of Copemish, Skylar (Shanna) Olmstead of Buckley, Michigan, and Austin (Angela) Olmstead of Indian River, Michigan; grandchildren, Chelsea, Kelsea, Kayla, Kody, Dylan, Kiley, Davin, Alyssa, Hunter, Mason, Aria, Kia, April, Stanley, Scott Jr, David, Zachary, Haley, Kevin Jr, Kalob, Kody, Nicholas, Jenna, and Maxwell; great-grandchildren, Michaela, Jackson, and Bocephus; mother, Virginia Michalski of Stalwart; mother-in-law, Elna Van Houten of DeTour, Michigan; brothers, Thomas (Mary Jean) Michalski of Pickford, Michigan and Richard Michalski of Stalwart; sisters, Betty Latarte of Pickford, Barbara Pierce of Sault Ste. Marie, and Beverly (Timothy) Arman, of Pickford; bother-in-law, Kristopher (Milisa) Bechtel of Birch Run, Michigan; many nieces and nephews; and his little buddy, Buster. David is preceded in death by his father, Stanley and infant daughter, Valeena Michalski. Visitation will be held Friday, June 29, 2018 from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at R. Galer Funeral Home, 24549 S. M-129, Pickford, MI 49774 and Saturday, June 30, 2018 from 10:00 A.M to 11:00 A.M. With the Funeral Service beginning at 11:00 A.M. Burial will be at Maple Grove Cemetery, in DeTour. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.rgalerfuneralhome.com.

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David Joe Michalski

April 16, 1950 - June 23, 2018