David is lovingly remembered by his wife Colleen, daughter Monique, granddaughters McKenzie and Ava, nieces Jackie and Georgia, sister Sharon Peters, brother James, Gerald and Richard Sullivan, mother-in-law Ruby Larson, father–in-law Gilbert Larson, sister-in-law Angela Larson, along with the many other family, friends and military comrades – Brothers in Arms.
David was predeceased by Gerald Sullivan, Rita Hamilton, Sheila Sullivan and Bernard Sullivan.
David was born the youngest of seven children in Perth Andover, New Brunswick on March 20, 1967. His father was a truck driver and farmed on the side. David attended public school in a small town called Aroostook Junction. David attended high school and five years of air cadets in Perth graduating from there. He earned a bursary to the University of New Brunswick, majoring in engineering but left university later that year due to too much concentration of nightlife and not enough on studies.
After returning home and acquiring a job pumping diesel fuel, David and a buddy decided to join the army to see the world. David (Sully) entered basic training at Canadian Forces Recruit School Cornwallis in February of 1986, then went to Petawawa for Battle School with the Royal Canadian Regiment and later went to Wainwright, AB to attend Battle School with the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry.
After Battle School, David was posted to the Canadian Airborne Center in Edmonton, AB, where he spent the next three years working in Aerial Delivery, trade related driving courses, the Parachute Training Coy, and various exercise and school camps around Alberta.
In 1989, with the encouragement of a couple Supply Techs, he remustered to Logistics. David was then posted to Canadian Forces Base North Bay for more training and was employed in general and technical stores.
David and Colleen were married in July of 1989 in North Bay, and later that year they were posted to CFB Comox. There David worked in many sections and was fortunate enough to be selected for the Base Defence Force. He also spent a summer in Chilliwack supporting the officer’s school.
From March to September of 1993, David did a tour in Israel with UNDOF. When he returned back to Canada, he was posted to 2 Svc Battalion in Petawawa. In June of 1994, David left for Croatia and was stationed at Camp Primosten. He returned to Canada in March of 1995, and left again in December of that year, for Bosnia on tour with IFOR, where he was stationed in Velika Kladusa.
Immediately after returning to Canada, David moved to 2 Combat Engineer Regiment where he spent the next four years. July 2000 brought him back to Svc Bn as a MCpl. In June 2002, he was posted to ASU Chilliwack, where he spent the next year. Upon promotion to Sgt. In 2003, he was posted to 1 General Support Battalion in Edmonton, AB. In 2006, he moved to 1 Svc Bn in Edmonton. In 2013, he retired as a Master Warrant Officer from the position of G4 Sup at Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre in Wainwright, AB. David (Sully)’s tours include Golan Heights, Syria, Croatia, Bosnia, Kosovo and Afghanistan.
Since retiring from the Military Dave lived life to the fullest.
He took to the mountains! Dave loved being outdoors in the wilderness. He hiked many mountains, to name a few are Mt. Cheam, Mt. Slesse, Elk Mountain, Thirsten, Teapot, and Skyline 1 and 2 in Manning Park which he took Monique and they did the hike within 24 hours.
Along with hiking, fishing was on his list of hobbies. He fished along the Vedder River 5 mins from our house. Coming home with his daily limit of fish, he would filet them and freeze them. Our freezer was full of salmon which we ate quite a lot of.
Dave liked to keep busy. He took on a few part time jobs in town. One was a short order cook flipping burgers on the grill at a local restaurant for about a year.
He then would come home and cook some more. Always looking for a new recipe to try.
Dave was well known for his breakfasts, reuben sandwiches, bone broths, soups of all kinds, spaghetti sauces, pizza's and his Sully Spice. Dave also baked cornbread with chocolate chips and random cakes. Colleen always gained weight when her Master Chef Sully was home.
One other part time jobs he took on was as a Carpenter. He helped to gut and rebuild 3 houses in our community. With his new carpentry skills Dave designed and built our 50 ft deck, woodshed, work shop, pergola around our fire pit. He carried all the lumber and every 6x6x8,12 and 14 ft post on his back. He balanced on beams, and accidently hammered his poor thumbs without complaining. He taught Colleen how to use all the workshop tools. She was his helper and together they built an oasis in their back yard.
Dave also worked as an undercover security guard, and a manager at a local business that supplied the RCMP, Police, Firefighters and Security Guards with equipment of all sorts.
Dave's spare time... he liked to garden. He grew natural herbs and spices such as dill, oregano, garlic chives and mints. He had a garden with kale, swiss chard, lettuce and sweet peas. He also had raspberries and a blue berry bush.
Dave loved flowers. He planted painted daisies for Colleen right in front of the yard so she would see them everyday they bloomed. His favorite flower was the Lupin. He even went up the mountain to gather little wild flowers to add to his flower collection.
Dave's down time! Dave was a Star Trek fan , a sci-fi guy and a movie buff. He knew his actors and actresses and all the movies they were in. Dave acted as well. In his 20's he acted in a few plays called " The Tomorrow Box", "Fiddler on the Roof/Grease and "The Great War ". Dave had a great memory and would watch Jeopardy regularly.
Dave had a few dogs growing up, but his last dog was his best 4 legged companion. Chase. Dave took Chase on every hike to the river, weather it be running or walking off they would go. One time Chase fell in the river...and of course Dave went after him. Only to see Chase crawl out and Dave floated by while Chase ran along the bank until he crawled out himself. Soaking wet they came home.
Chase climbed as high as Dave would go. Dave took Chase to work one year with the military. It was called Aventure Training and Chase chased a skunk out of the campground.
Daves pride and joy were his grandchildren. He was the proudest of Grandpas. He was there for his girls McKenzie and Ava. He was every character from Maui, Monster, Horsey, and gave them rides on his back. He crawled on the floor beside them, he let them jump on him and wrestle him. He carried them both up to bed when they had sleep overs.
Dave catered to the girls and cooked them their favorites. whether it be bacon, pancakes or his special hot dogs in the frying pan. Popcorn was a favorite with movie time.
Dave loved spending time with McKenzie and Ava and offered to take them as often as he could.
Dave, you will always be loved and remembered! Until we meet again. "Live long and prosper."
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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