David Reubens

Dave Reubens was a kind-hearted father, husband, and friend who tried each day to share his good spirits with the many people he loved. He knew that life was meant to be enjoyed, and each day he looked for reasons to smile. His family was his greatest accomplishment, and in the company of his beloved wife, children, and granddaughter, a familiar smile always brimmed over his lips. With a victorious end to the Second World War, thousands of young American soldiers returned to their civilian lives and soon started families of their own. The baby boom was quickly underway and in Muskegon, Michigan, Andrew Reubens and his wife Doris were among the many expecting parents. On July 19, 1952 they welcomed their son Dave into the family home at 1757 Dyson Street. The fourth of seven children, Dave grew up in Muskegon with the company of his older siblings, Virginia Ann, who was born in 1947 and died in October of 1950, Dick (1949), and Marilyn (1951), and his younger brothers, Tom (1954), Marvin (1955), and Louis (1961). While their mother tended to the house and looked after the children, their father provided for the family through his job at Shaw Box Crane. Dave was an energetic child, always excited and eager to explore his surroundings - his parents finally fixed him with a harness to keep him from running off! Dave and his siblings received a strong, traditional Catholic upbringing and attended St. Mary's and Sacred Heart Elementary Schools. Even in his youngest days, Dave exuded the personality that would follow him throughout his lifetime, endearing him to a great many. He was very outgoing and laid back, a fun-loving jokester who loved to share a good laugh. His family was at the center of his life, and he drew many of his fondest memories from their vacations at the family cabin, located in the Upper Peninsula on a generous forty acres. It was here that Dave discovered his lifelong passion for hunting and fishing. When his mother passed away in 1970, Dave was devastated. He never fully recovered from her absence, and he thought about her frequently throughout his adult life. In 1971 Dave graduated from Mona Shores High School where his natural charisma and good sense of humor earned him many friends. He was popular with the girls and enjoyed going on dates. Just one year after he received his diploma, Dave joined the Army and pursued a radically different education. He was trained as a Weapons Specialist, tank driver, and tank mechanic, providing him with skills that earned him the honor of his fellow troops in Korea. He retained many good memories from his military duty. Dave returned to Muskegon in 1975 and soon married his first wife Bonita. Their wedding was held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. It was happy, memorable occasion followed by the very special gift of their first son Jason, born on April 3, 1975. Dave loved kids, and he was ecstatic to meet his first child. He immediately saw a new hunting partner in Jason. Soon afterward, Dave and Bonita were blessed again with the birth of their daughter Doris on September 7, 1978, named in remembrance of Dave's beloved mother. They raised their family in the house at 3305 Baker Street, located in Muskegon Heights. As Dave saw it, life was good. His family was complete, and he was able to provide for them through his job at Gardner Denver in Grand Haven. He was a natural father, and he enjoyed bonding with children over the hobbies that he had first discovered in his youth. He taught Doris how to reload shotgun shells and how to shoot guns, making her one of the youngest girls in her elementary school to acquire these skills. Dave and Jason bonded over hunting and fishing, and enjoyed sharing the outdoors with each other. In 1982, Dave and Bonita divorced, yet remained good friends for many years to come. In the year 1984, Dave spotted an attractive young woman named Brenda seated across the room. He was sitting with his friends, and he told a few trademark jokes to try to coax a laugh out of her. But she was not impressed with his sense of humor. Still, Dave was smitten, and he continue to pursue her whenever they bumped into each other at parties. Soon enough, his charm clicked with her, and she was suddenly very interested. Though they were not married until 1991, their love quickly blossomed into a fulfilling, intimate relationship. When Brenda's mother passed away in 1986, Dave shared in her pain and comforted her with memories of his own mother. One year later, he began his own battle with cancer. He was diagnosed with malignant melanoma, a cancer that he bravely fought off for nineteen years. He always understood the value of life, and he always looked forward to another tomorrow to share with his family. Even when his father passed away at the old age of ninety, Dave still mourned the loss of a good and dear friend. Dave and Brenda's marriage represented a new beginning for them. They settled at 1101 Hile Road in Norton Shores, Michigan. Brenda enjoyed spending time with her step-children, Jason and Doris, and a close bond soon developed between the three. Meanwhile, Dave worked a new job in Grand Rapids at Alloy Tek. In the year 2000, Dave built his "dream garage," which quickly became his retreat center. He spent many nights in the garage, working on his special projects, keeping to himself. Dave remained as social as ever as he grew older, and he enjoyed hosting cookouts for his family and friends, always featuring his famous turkey fries and fish fries. Each year he and his friends joined up for their annual walleye fishing trip to the Detroit River. In his later life, Dave experienced one of his greatest joys with the birth of his first and only grandchild Alexandra. Dave was truly a proud grandpa; as long as there was someone who would listen, he would talk about Alex endlessly. Many of his happiest moments involved the time that he spent with Alex. In 2002 Dave was involved in a bad car accident from which his health never fully recovered. Four years later, in February of 2006, he was diagnosed with lung cancer. He spent his final days in the warm company of his friends and family, who will always remember Dave for his sharp humor, his big heart, and his generous devotion to the many people he loved. Dave died on February 27, 2006. He was preceded in death by his parents and by his sister, Virginia Ann Reubens. He is survived by his wife Brenda, his son Jason Reubens, his daughter Doris Reubens, and his grandchild Alexandra, all of Muskegon. Also surviving are his sister, Marilyn (Michael) Petrowski of Muskegon, and his four brothers, Dick Reubens of Muskegon, Tom Reubens of AZ, Marvin Reubens of Muskegon, Louis Reubens of Escanaba, MI; several nieces & nephews. Please visit Dave's personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can archive a favorite memory, sign the guestbook, or post a memorial contribution.