David R. Germain

DAVID RAY GERMAIN, passed over to his Lord Jesus Christ on September 27, 2021, at the age of 86, in Washington, Missouri.   He was born in 1935 to loving parents Evelyn and Raymond Germain in Pico, California.  He had an older brother, Ronald, who pre-deceased him and left us all way too soon.  Dave is survived by his wife of 60 years, Barbara Germain, Daughter Stephanie (Dan) Nordberg and Son Michael (Debbie) Germain, as well as four grandsons – Sam, Nick, Joe and Tom, step-granddaughter Courtney, and many nephews and nieces.  Dave is also missed greatly by loving in-laws Beverly Germain, Francis and Gerald Woley, Malinda Christ and Richard Rapp, and by lifelong friends such as Elaine Urbaniec, Burt and Monica Geiss, and Carmen Larson, and by their more recent Missouri friends including his driving buddy Mel Weber and next-door neighbors Doug and Laurie Weber.

In 1952, at the age of 17, Dave enlisted in the United States Air Force.  He completed Basic Training at Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls, Texas, entered aircraft mechanics school, and was later stationed at Castle AFB in Merced, California, where he was Crew Chief on a KC-135.  He loved his time in the USAF, served his Country honorably and was discharged in 1955.  It was not long thereafter that he met the absolute and total love of his life, Barbara Jean Woley, a newly minted Registered Nurse who had migrated from her birthplace of Centralia, Illinois to California.  Dave and Barbara wed in 1961, promptly bought their first home in Hacienda Heights, had Stephanie and Michael, then relocated in 1969 to what was then a remote Laguna Niguel where Dave went to work for AVCO building, among other projects, the El Niguel Golf Course and County Club.   Dave was a maverick businessman at heart, not the “corporate” type, and with grit and confidence he decided to strike out on his own in development and construction.  He obtained his General Contractor’s license in the 1970s and began a decades-long successful career as an owner-developer-builder of many single family homes in Laguna Niguel, Anaheim, Palm Desert and Indio.  After the kids left the nest in 1983, Dave and Barbara moved around to various places including Palm Desert, La Quinta, Las Vegas and Colorado Springs.  In 2010, they finally, settled down in Washington, Missouri – the state’s gorgeous wine region along the Missouri River – a town that stole their hearts.

Dave was the consummate son, brother, husband, father, uncle and grandfather, and was always the proud and effective provider, teacher and leader to his wife and children.  He was also imbued with the perfect combination of grit, empathy, humor, wit, integrity and honor.  Dave’s favorite activities in his younger years included taking his boat “Pal Joey” to Catalina Island off southern California to scuba dive and spearfish, hunting with his father, brother and son, and deep sea fishing trips for albacore with his close friends.  But his favorite things in life always revolved around his family.  He adored his wife and showered her with love and affection.  Dave also spoiled Stephanie and Michael and was actively involved in their lives, and those of the grandchildren.  Dave had a deep love for family, friends, life itself and staying active.

 A very special and heartfelt thanks and deep gratitude goes out from the Germain Family to David at Nieburg-Vitt Miller Funeral Home.  We extend the same to Mercy Hospital in Washington MO, and to New Haven Hospice Care in New Haven MO.  From start to finish and top to bottom, the nursing staff and administration was outstanding and compassionate.  Thank you Alex, Clea, Laura and Charlie at Mercy, and Theresa, Jenni, Lori and Holly at New Haven.  Your care for Dave was simply angelic.

A memorial service for Dave will be held in California at a later date.

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