July 24, 1920 - Nov 27, 2019 David was born in 1920 in Pu'unene on Maui, and grew up in Ulupalakua. He was a graduate of Lahainaluna High class of 1939, where he played football, wrestled, and was a rockpile veteran and President of his Senior Class. He worked at Pearl Harbor and then at U.S.E.D. during the war. In a 28-year military career with the Army Engineers ("First In Last Out"), he was part of the Occupation Forces in Germany, where he met his wife Gertraud (Trudy) and went on to share 66 years together. His hobbies were German wine and Japanese swords. He served in Korea and Vietnam, and was awarded numerous citations including the Bronze Star. After retiring as Command Sergeant Major in 1973, he settled in Germany with Trudy in her hometown in northern Bavaria, where they had a close circle of friends and did much traveling until Trudy's death in 2014 on the morning of their 66th anniversary. David then moved to San Diego to be with his son Tom and his family before ultimately returning to Hawaii with his daughter Barbara and her family. His history spans 99 years, from failing first grade because he did not speak English and a childhood struggling in the Depression, to the highest enlisted rank in the Army, to 65 years of travel and a wide and diverse circle of relatives and friends. He was son, brother Kio, brother-in-law, Uncle David, husband, father, father-in-law and Ojiisan. He is survived by sisters Chiyono (Chickie) Ebisu and Miyako Okuyama, sister-in-law Myrna Shimei, daughter Barbara Shimei (John Gasidlo), son Thomas Shimei (Karen Convery), grand- children Michael, Katherine, ZZ and Benjamin and 14 nephews and nieces and their families. A memorial service is planned for July 24, 2020 in honor of his 100th birthday. Arrangements Provided By: Nuuanu Memorial Park & Mortuary LLC
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
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