David Hugh Held

Funeral Services were held for David Held, age 84, of Wadena, Minnesota on Saturday, June 5, 2021 at Karvonen Funeral Home in Wadena with Rev. Blake A. Rickbeil officiating. Pallbearers were Von Steward, Todd Steward, Lee Steward, Brent Steward, Allen Knutson and Andrew Brown.

David Hugh Held was born on August 9th, 1936, in Paw Paw Michigan. He grew up working on the family farm where he developed strong skills working with electronics, construction and automotive maintenance. His sons referred to Dave as “the magician” because of his ability to repair and build even the most challenging projects. He built his own home in Traverse City Michigan, and he pioneered digital communications for the Michigan State Police, which included the completion of numerous communication towers around the state.

He graduated from Lawton Highschool in 1954 and then attended Western Michigan University where he played drums in the marching band. In 1957 Dave began a 40-year career at the Michigan State Police where he was promoted to Director of Communications in 1975. He managed this division until his retirement in 1997.

Numerous co-workers, friends and family have expressed that Dave was one of the kindest men that they have ever known, and that he kept occasions light with his low-key sense of humor.

Dave was a loving and supportive father, husband, uncle, grandfather, and great grandfather. He invested long hours coaching little leagues baseball, assisting with Boy Scouts meetings, Civil Air Patrol training, and piloting family and friends on many recreational flights.

For many years Dave volunteered as a board member of the Meridian Township Cable Commission and also as an examiner/coordinator for the Federal Communications Commission. He was a one-time President of the Ingham County Genealogical Society and a one-time President of Michigan Association of Public Safety Communications Officials.

Dave was a HAM radio operator from a young age and into his golden years. He enjoyed helping all the locals in the Wadena area with their antennas. He was very actively involved in radio clubs in Michigan and Minnesota, and he was honored by having his call numbers N8CFM retired as “Silent Key” status, never to be used again.

David Hugh Held passed away on June 2, 2021. He will be dearly missed by both friends and family. Preceding Dave in death are his parents Lloyd and Margaret (Hough) Held; first wife Diane (Czajkowski) Held; sisters: Gene Clow and Ellabeth Schunck; and brother: Richard Held.

Surviving Dave is his loving wife Roberta Held of Wadena; sons: Tim (Sandy) Held of Lansing, Michigan, and Jeff (Maureen) Held of Venice, Florida; grandchild: Brendan Held; stepchildren: Von, Lee, Jay, Todd, Shelly, Bobbie, and Jessie; and many other relatives and a host of friends.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, June 9th from 6-8 PM and funeral services Thursday 11 AM at Gorsline-Runciman’s East Lansing Chapel, 1730 E Grand River Ave. Burial to follow the funeral at Glendale Cemetery in Okemos.