David Wigley

Frankenmuth, MI

David A. Wigley, a friend to all, transitioned to eternal life on October 27, 2024 with family at his side.

Born June 16,1925 to Luella and Norman Wigley in Saginaw, Dave was raised in Vassar, attending Marietta College in Ohio before enlisting in World War ll.  Stationed in Honolulu, HI, Dave served on Harbor Patrol in Pearl Harbor from 1944-1946.

Upon returning from military service Dave immediately began a 46-year career at Grey Iron foundry in Saginaw, working for Chevrolet and General Motors.

Dave and Alice née Mossner were married June 14, 1959, at St. Michael's in Richville, with Dave endearing himself with Alice's German family. This year they celebrated their 65th anniversary two days before his 99th birthday.

Moving his young family to Frankenmuth's Mary Lane in 1966, Dave was seen as a constant helping and kind presence by his neighbors.

His fulfillment was found in family and friends alike. Always with a kind word and generous, fun-loving spirit, Dave made friends readily…singing with the Gemütlichkeit club; volunteering with the Lions Club; serving as a Commander for American Legion Post 150.  He was as a member of the Frankenmuth Historical Society and a second-generation member of the Vassar Fishing Club in Grayling, MI which his father helped found during the Great Depression.  He also was an active parishioner at St. Lorenz Church where he served over the years as deacon, usher and elder, and where he particularly enjoyed his friends at Bible study.

In his retired years, Dave and Alice were snowbirds in Islamorada Florida where he collected more friends poolside at Executive Bay Club and at Immanuel Lutheran church in Tavernier, FL.

A kind soul, Dave embraced being respectful, cheerful and hard-working—especially as a role model to his four grandsons who were raised in Summit, New Jersey. Dave made himself quite at home there with frequent extended visits staying with his daughter Mary Ann's family. There he discovered more friends—young and old—on Linden Place and downtown. Dave carried the same spirit of Gemütlichkeit to Harleysville PA where he and his wife Alice visited his son Dave and Mary Beth extensively.

Cherishing his memory are his spouse Alice, daughter Mary Ann (Wigley) and Brian Kaufman of Grosse Pointe, grandsons Owen & Marielle Kaufman of Grosse Pointe Woods; Andrew and Anna Kaufman of Grosse Pointe Park; Eric Kaufman of League City TX; and Tyler Kaufman of St. Louis, MO, and great-grandsons Charlie and Arthur, and son and daughter in law, David and Mary Beth (Zweifel) Wigley of Harleysville, PA., his sister Mary also survives him, as well as his beloved sisters in law, Frances Emling and Barbara Mossner, and many beloved nieces and nephews.

David was predeceased by his sister Ann; her husband Jack Mahar; brother-in-law James T. Baker, nephews James T. Baker, Jr., and Kevin Baker; in-laws Ruben and Dorothy Mossner, Roy Mossner, Carl and Marian Mossner, Glenn and Marlene Mossner and Dr. Fritz Emling.

Special thank you to his wonderful neighbors on Mary Lane and throughout the Frankenmuth community who would stop to say hello to the fellow sunning himself in the driveway, helping with rides and showing they care. An additional thank you to the staff at Avista nursing home and rehab center, Saginaw, and Swan hospice for their tender measures in his final days.

Funeral Service will take place on Friday, November 1, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Lorenz Lutheran Church, 1030 W. Tuscola, Frankenmuth, Michigan. The service will be live streamed at https://www.stlorenz.org/stream/ . Dave's family will receive visitors at Cederberg Funeral Home of Frankenmuth, 590 N. Franklin St. on Thursday from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. and Friday at the church from 10:00 a.m. until time of service.

For expression of sympathies, please consider donating to St. Lorenz Lutheran Church, the Frankenmuth Historical Society or the Frankenmuth James E Wickson District Library.