David William Luce

David was born in Portland, OR on November 6, 1939 to Roscoe William Luce and Thelma Agnes Gibson. He graduated from Cleveland High School in 1957.

Since the age of five, Dave was an avid fisherman, eating, living and breathing fish. He liked nothing better than to be out on his boat. His dad would sometimes come get him from school to take him fishing. The next day, the excuse note would read “Dave was sick. RW Luce.” During his last year of high school, he arranged to have study hall first period so he could fish before school.

Dave started working on the dredge for the Port of Portland before enlisting in the Air Force. He was sent to Lydia, Africa after training and then to Marquette, Michigan. He would joke that he went from 100+ degrees to minus 25 degrees in a matter of a week. When he separated from the service, he returned to the dredge. He transferred to the general maintenance department at the airport, retiring January 1, 1995 after 36 years of dedicated service.

In 1970, he met Barbara Karcher and they married on September 10, 1972. Son Matthew was born in 1975, followed by son Michael in 1977. The boys kept the family busy and active through soccer, baseball, and Scouts.

Dave was a Cub Scout Cubmaster for 7 years, continuing this role even after his sons aged out of the program. He participated in several Boy Scout activities as Matt continued on and earned his Eagle Scout. Matt and Michael continued to play baseball through high school and Dave went to as many games as he could, often bringing a large jug of Gatorade for the team.

Dave started his fundraising activities while Matt and Michael were in Scouts, hauling paper from the collection bin to the recycler. Then came tin and recyclable cans and bottles. If it was recyclable, Dave knew where to take it. After his sons graduated, Dave turned his fundraising efforts to their alma mater, Parkrose High School, where he earned the nickname “Big Dave the Can Man.” Dave gave his time unconditionally to the students of Parkrose, and continued to fundraise for the school (mostly for the Senior All-Night Party, but also for numerous clubs and teams) until declining health (and his wife) forced him to stop. In all, it’s estimated he collected over $140,000 for Parkrose.

Dave was publicly recognized many times in the community due to his service: several articles in the Mid-County Memo; an article in the Oregonian; Scouting Family of the Year; and Mid-County Volunteer of the Year, to name a few. The Parkrose School District proclaimed February of 2016 to be Dave Luce “Can Man” Appreciation Month.

Dave made many lifelong friends through his volunteering and fishing. They were faithful to him until the end. Thank you for the driving, visiting, phone calls, meals out, and treats they brought to him.

Fisherman Dave, the Can Man, is survived by his wife Barbara; sons Matt and Michael; daughter-in-law Kristi; six grandchildren (Caiden, Cameron, Natalie, Alex, Courtney, and Amanda); and three great-grandchildren (Kamden, Coen and Harper). He was preceded in death by his parents and his grandson Wrigley.

In Lieu of flowers please consider donations in memory of David Luce to Consano for cancer research, a link to Dave's honor page is here: https://consano.org/projects/the-can-man-fund/

Or to the Parkrose Athletics Club.