Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
NameDavid William Norman SEIFFERLEIN 
470, David William Norman Seifferlein
470, David William Norman SeifferleinBirthJul 17, 1944, Mount Clemens, Macomb County, Michigan470, David William Norman Seifferlein
DeathApr 6, 2018, Dowagiac, Cass County, Michigan470, David William Norman Seifferlein
BurialCremated470, David William Norman Seifferlein
Spouses
BirthMay 19, 1945, Pontiac, Oakland County, Michigan470, Sandra Kay Morris Seifferlein
DeathJul 3, 2017470, Sandra Kay Morris Seifferlein
BurialSouth Wayne Cemetery(Wayne Chapel), Dowagiac, Cass County, Michigan470, Sandra Kay Morris Seifferlein
FatherErnest Leroy MORRIS (1920-2002)
Mother(Confidential, Female)
MarriageJun 28, 1969, Walled Lake, Michigan470, David William Norman Seifferlein
Obituary Online notes for David William Norman SEIFFERLEIN
DOWAGIAC - David William Norman Seifferlein, age 73, of Dowagiac, peacefully passed in his earthly home on April 6, 2018 and was reunited with his wife in their heavenly home. DSeiffer was a math teacher and wherever he went, it was his custom to assess surroundings through counting and estimating things - with some side-to-side head shakes, he'd begin determining the number of ceiling tiles in a given space, an estimate of how many people a particular venue could hold, or the number of westbound cars on I-94 while his family traveled east.
Dave was born July 19, 1944 in Saint Clair Shores, Michigan to Clarence and Ina Seifferlein. You can calculate as Dave would - 26,926 days of life on this earth. You'll notice the number has symmetry. There's 9 in the middle and 26 on both sides. There is significance to those numbers that wouldn't be lost on Dave. Let's take a look.
He started as one, but on June 28, 1969, he married Sandra Kay Morris at Saint Matthew Lutheran Church in Walled Lake, Michigan. Then there were two. Add 7 filthy children, and there is 9. Nine smack in the middle of 26,926. The middle of Dave's life would be filled with the joys (and trials) of nine. But those children would add five more spouses and multiply with twelve grandchildren. 9+5+12=26. 26,926. Nine in the middle of twenty-six.
Dave is survived by four daughters: Melissa (Drew) Flint, Kristen (Greg) Olsen, Katrina (Jonathan) Koudelka, and Melonie (Brent) Swisher; and three sons: Brian (Emily) Seifferlein, Brent Seifferlein, and Brad Seifferlein. As mentioned, the 12 grandchildren were a great source of pride to Dave and Sandy: Benjamin, Ryan, Emma, and Elisabeth Flint; Colette, Mary, Julia, Matthew, William, and Jessica Koudelka; Joseph and Charlie Seifferlein, and the first Swisher grandchild is expected in July. (Dave called this one “Number 13,” because he was always eager to see the numbers grow.) He is also survived by his brother, Dennis (Carol) Seifferlein, and a host of nieces and nephews.
In 26,926 days, one can accomplish quite a bit. As a boy, he played baseball and basketball, preparing him to administer defeat-after-defeat to his future children, even as they grew to match him in size. And as a young man, ‘Seif' attended Concordia College in Forest Park, Illinois. There, the hijinks of young men led to a lifetime of friendships - men who would be there for David and Sandy while she was hospitalized and readying to leave this world.
David Seifferlein was a teacher for 44 years, with almost 90% of those years spent at Eau Claire Public Schools. That's nearly 60% of his life. As the 505 friends on Facebook would indicate, he tried to stay in touch with as many students as possible, and delighted in being the teacher to the children of former students. Added to the students are friends made with fellow teachers, lunch aides, office personnel, and janitors. Dave cared about them all.
Using even the most cautious of numbers, we can estimate that he and band teacher Mike Petersen drove around the world together at least twice in the 12-mile increments of carpooling between Dowagiac and Eau Claire. Speaking of routes, as much as David had a penchant for numbers, he was equally interested in where you came from and how you got here. Literally... but also figuratively. Tell him where you began your journey, the route you took, and how much time transpired before you came to this destination and David would have the necessary information to make a stranger a friend. He was known for finding a common connection within minutes of making an acquaintance, whether it be a mutual friend or a distant relative.
The driving force of David's love for others was fueled by his faith in Christ and his commitment to the Great Commission. As a member at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Cassopolis (40 years, 10 months and 21 days), he worshipped nearly every Sunday and taught Sunday school, served as an usher, and was an elder on the board. He was a quiet witness, not aggressive, but ready to share the hope he had in Christ with those who were ready to hear. His devotion and service to Christ was not limited to Sundays or inside the church, as any who knew him would easily testify. During Sandy's final days, David sat faithfully by the side of his ailing wife for 138 days, singing “Side by Side,” and taking very seriously those vows of “in sickness and in health” by traveling 180 miles daily to be there.
One man has created a very complicated math problem, illustrating how one life can impact many. The math of DSeiffer will continue to multiply as his friends and family continue his legacy with the simple kindness of taking a vested interest in each other. It would bless the family to have you join them in a celebration of David's life, sharing stories and the love he displayed for others.
Family and friends will gather on Monday, April 23, 2018 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Connelly Chapel Wagner Family Funerals. Additional gathering will take place on Tuesday, April 24, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. until time of service at 11:00 a.m. in Saint Paul Lutheran Church, 305 West State Street, Cassopolis, with the Reverend Paul Doellinger officiating. Dad will be laid to rest beside Mom in South Wayne Cemetery in Wayne Township.
The family prefers contributions be made in David's memory to either Saint Paul Lutheran Church, 305 West State Street Cassopolis, Michigan 49031 or Eau Claire Public Schools, 6190 West Main Street, Eau Claire, Michigan 49111.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Connelly Chapel Wagner Family Funerals, Cassopolis. Please share a memory or a message online: wagnercares.com.
Published in South Bend Tribune from Apr. 15 to Apr. 22, 2018470, David William Norman Seifferlein
Dave was born July 19, 1944 in Saint Clair Shores, Michigan to Clarence and Ina Seifferlein. You can calculate as Dave would - 26,926 days of life on this earth. You'll notice the number has symmetry. There's 9 in the middle and 26 on both sides. There is significance to those numbers that wouldn't be lost on Dave. Let's take a look.
He started as one, but on June 28, 1969, he married Sandra Kay Morris at Saint Matthew Lutheran Church in Walled Lake, Michigan. Then there were two. Add 7 filthy children, and there is 9. Nine smack in the middle of 26,926. The middle of Dave's life would be filled with the joys (and trials) of nine. But those children would add five more spouses and multiply with twelve grandchildren. 9+5+12=26. 26,926. Nine in the middle of twenty-six.
Dave is survived by four daughters: Melissa (Drew) Flint, Kristen (Greg) Olsen, Katrina (Jonathan) Koudelka, and Melonie (Brent) Swisher; and three sons: Brian (Emily) Seifferlein, Brent Seifferlein, and Brad Seifferlein. As mentioned, the 12 grandchildren were a great source of pride to Dave and Sandy: Benjamin, Ryan, Emma, and Elisabeth Flint; Colette, Mary, Julia, Matthew, William, and Jessica Koudelka; Joseph and Charlie Seifferlein, and the first Swisher grandchild is expected in July. (Dave called this one “Number 13,” because he was always eager to see the numbers grow.) He is also survived by his brother, Dennis (Carol) Seifferlein, and a host of nieces and nephews.
In 26,926 days, one can accomplish quite a bit. As a boy, he played baseball and basketball, preparing him to administer defeat-after-defeat to his future children, even as they grew to match him in size. And as a young man, ‘Seif' attended Concordia College in Forest Park, Illinois. There, the hijinks of young men led to a lifetime of friendships - men who would be there for David and Sandy while she was hospitalized and readying to leave this world.
David Seifferlein was a teacher for 44 years, with almost 90% of those years spent at Eau Claire Public Schools. That's nearly 60% of his life. As the 505 friends on Facebook would indicate, he tried to stay in touch with as many students as possible, and delighted in being the teacher to the children of former students. Added to the students are friends made with fellow teachers, lunch aides, office personnel, and janitors. Dave cared about them all.
Using even the most cautious of numbers, we can estimate that he and band teacher Mike Petersen drove around the world together at least twice in the 12-mile increments of carpooling between Dowagiac and Eau Claire. Speaking of routes, as much as David had a penchant for numbers, he was equally interested in where you came from and how you got here. Literally... but also figuratively. Tell him where you began your journey, the route you took, and how much time transpired before you came to this destination and David would have the necessary information to make a stranger a friend. He was known for finding a common connection within minutes of making an acquaintance, whether it be a mutual friend or a distant relative.
The driving force of David's love for others was fueled by his faith in Christ and his commitment to the Great Commission. As a member at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Cassopolis (40 years, 10 months and 21 days), he worshipped nearly every Sunday and taught Sunday school, served as an usher, and was an elder on the board. He was a quiet witness, not aggressive, but ready to share the hope he had in Christ with those who were ready to hear. His devotion and service to Christ was not limited to Sundays or inside the church, as any who knew him would easily testify. During Sandy's final days, David sat faithfully by the side of his ailing wife for 138 days, singing “Side by Side,” and taking very seriously those vows of “in sickness and in health” by traveling 180 miles daily to be there.
One man has created a very complicated math problem, illustrating how one life can impact many. The math of DSeiffer will continue to multiply as his friends and family continue his legacy with the simple kindness of taking a vested interest in each other. It would bless the family to have you join them in a celebration of David's life, sharing stories and the love he displayed for others.
Family and friends will gather on Monday, April 23, 2018 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Connelly Chapel Wagner Family Funerals. Additional gathering will take place on Tuesday, April 24, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. until time of service at 11:00 a.m. in Saint Paul Lutheran Church, 305 West State Street, Cassopolis, with the Reverend Paul Doellinger officiating. Dad will be laid to rest beside Mom in South Wayne Cemetery in Wayne Township.
The family prefers contributions be made in David's memory to either Saint Paul Lutheran Church, 305 West State Street Cassopolis, Michigan 49031 or Eau Claire Public Schools, 6190 West Main Street, Eau Claire, Michigan 49111.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Connelly Chapel Wagner Family Funerals, Cassopolis. Please share a memory or a message online: wagnercares.com.
Published in South Bend Tribune from Apr. 15 to Apr. 22, 2018470, David William Norman Seifferlein