David John McCormick

David graduated from Waukesha South High School in 1965. In 1967, he was drafted by the United States Army and served as a medic in the 82nd Airborne. He served his Country faithfully and honorably through the Fall of 1968. He worked various jobs while attending Carroll College, Waukesha, WI, graduated in 1985 with a Major in Business Administration. He found his calling in the Healthcare Industry which began at Waukesha Memorial, then Columbia-St. Mary’s in Milwaukee, then St. Lukes in Racine, then Gila Regional Medical Center, Silver City, NM, Palo Verde Hospital, Blythe, CA, Mesa General Hospital, Mesa AZ, La Paz Regional Hospital, Parker, AZ and finally retiring in 2010.

David lived a full, beautiful, adventurous, colorful and humble life. Returning from Vietnam, he made Wisconsin home for the next 31 years. David was a family man blessed with two beautiful daughters, Alison and Jennifer. In 1999 he moved to Silver City, New Mexico after accepting the Business Office Director position at Gila Regional Medical Center. In 2005 he married the love of his life, Annette and moved to Blythe, California and later they settled in their happy home in Mesa, Arizona.

David was very enthusiastic and passionate about living life to the fullest. He was always willing to experience new things and always willing to lend a helping hand. He was very competitive in anything he did especially playing softball for over thirty years with many talented men, winning multiple championships. In 1988 while traveling to Arizona for a softball tournament he fell in love with sunny Arizona which he referred to as Paradise, he knew then he would return to the Southwest someday. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, coaching his daughter’s soccer and softball teams as well as men’s softball teams, discovering new places while traveling on their ship cruises, hiking, golfing, bowling, attending spring training games, Nascar races, playing board games, working out and staying fit, going to the Casino and working on his meticulous yard and home. His favorite Holiday was Christmas, decorating the tree and the yard, shopping with his loved ones and of course opening gifts, he enjoyed listening and dancing to his favorite tunes, relaxing in his swimming pool on a hot AZ day with his wife enjoying a cold beer, attending Church and having movie night on Saturday evenings. He was an avid Green Bay Packer and Milwaukee Brewer fan. David enjoyed going to the horse races on a beautiful sunny AZ day with his wife Annette (especially teaching her how to pick a winning horse). He didn’t know a stranger he made a friend everywhere he went. David will greatly be missed by all who knew him. David’s kindness, warmth and gentle spirit will be remembered forever.

He is survived by his wife Annette (Fernandez) of 18 years, his daughters Jennifer Murphy and Alison Schmidt (Gary), step-children Jason and Britney, three Brothers, Scott (Robin), Terry (Cathy), Steve (Nadine), four grandchildren JD and Shauna Murphy, Maddie and Lily Schmidt, one great-granddaughter Mariah, step-grandchildren Annie and William, sister-in-law Yvonne Torres (Joey), mother-in law Margaret Fernandez, Cecil (Louie) and multiple nephews and nieces and great-nephews and nieces.

David was preceded in death by his brother Dennis McCormick, his infant son Andrew Scott McCormick, Father Rueben, beloved Mother Lucille, brother Micheal McCormick, brother-in-law Louis Fernandez, Edward Torres, great-step-niece Quiana Torres and father-in-law Fred Fernandez.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, March 14th at 4 O’clock through 8 O’clock pm. The Holy Rosary will be recited by Deacon Tom Ferreira at 5:30 at Mariposa Gardens Memorial Funeral Home 6747 E. Broadway Road, Mesa, AZ. The Funeral Liturgy will be officiated by Father Larry Merta on Friday, March 15th at 10:30 am at Holy Cross Catholic Parish 1244 S. Power Road, Mesa, Arizona, following the Mass, David will be laid to rest at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona 23029 N. Cave Creek Road, Phoenix, AZ.

Pallbearers will be Scott McCormick, JD Murphy, Gary Schmidt, Clark Beier, Evan Hansen, Robert Delgado. Honorary pallbearers will be Mike Buckley "Best Mate", Doug Christenson, Steve Smith, Terry and Steve McCormick, and all his softball and bowling friends.