David Hirsch

David Francis Hirsch, age 82 years of Niles, Michigan; husband, father, brother, professional truck driver, sports fan, and honorable veteran died peacefully on Friday morning, April 11, 2025 with his wife by his bedside at the Chalet of Niles following a brief illness.

He was born on April 23, 1942 in Saint Louis, Missouri to Louis H. and Audrey A. (Neunuebel) Hirsch. He graduated from a local high school, and continued his education at the University of Missouri – “Mizzou” – studying mathematics. He enlisted in the United States Air Force, was assigned to the 921st Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, spending most of his tour of duty at Saint Anthony Air Station on the far eastern shore of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. He was Honorably Discharged as a Veteran of the Vietnam Era, and transferred to the Air Force Reserve to complete his 6 year obligation.

David joined the United Auto Workers Local #136 in Fenton, Missouri representing the workers at the Chrysler Saint Louis Assembly Center. He later joined the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 600, and began his career as a professional over-the-road truck driver. He owned and operated his truck which he leased to Clark Transfer, to pull Clark’s 53 foot customized trailers, carrying Broadway shows throughout the United States. He moved some of the greatest shows including “Phantom”, “Lion King”, and “BLAST!”, backing-up to stage doors, and retiring to his “super sleeper” to sleep while the show performed. He once took a production from a theater in Boston to the next theater in San Francisco in five days. He completed 34 years of driving prior to his retirement.

When not on the road, he enjoyed watching sports on television, mostly on the weekends, enjoying each season’s sport. He watched this year’s March Madness collegiate basketball tournament, and was pleased to see the University of Florida Gators become the champion. He was raised in the Methodist church, but more recently he would attend Portage Road General Baptist Church with his family. Even though he had visited all 48 contiguous states, he still enjoyed traveling, and had gone on cruises to Alaska, Hawaii, and the Panama Canal.

On September 17, 2005 he married the former Patricia Ann (Mabry) Taylor at an outdoor ceremony in Pat’s sister’s backyard in Berrien Springs, Michigan. Pat became a truck driver herself, and shared driving with David until his retirement.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Audrey Hirsch, and by a brother, Michael Hirsch.

Surviving family includes his wife, Pat; his daughters, Linda Hirsch of Saint Louis and Nancy Hirsch of Lawrence, Kansas; a brother, Tom (& Kay) Hirsch of Columbia, Missouri; several nieces and nephews; and Pat’s children, Pamela Smith of Mishawaka, Indiana and Randy Taylor of Niles; grandchildren Jonah, Luke, and Eli Smith, Nichole Hesser, and Wyatt Taylor; and great-grandchildren, Redden and Barrett Taylor, Jack and Raelyn Hesser, and Olivia Rae Smith.

Full Military Honors for David Hirsch will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. (Central Time) on Monday, April 21, 2025 at the Valhalla Cemetery Garden Mausoleum, 7600 Saint Charles Rock Road in Saint Louis by the United States Air Force Honor Guard. Entombment will follow.

Arrangements are in progress at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles who will be transporting David’s remains to Saint Louis and directing the service there. Online condolences may be left at:

www.halbritterwickens.com

Eighty-two years is a wonderful long life, and David used those years well; serving his country in the military, maintaining a career as a productive member of society, and enjoying sports and traveling. He believed in God, practicing his faith from the cab of his truck instead of a church building, and loved his wife, Pat.