David Michael Riley was born on May 3, 1959 in Kalamazoo, Michigan.  His parents, Don and Linda, worked at Upjohn for their entire careers. Linda was a wonderful mother who doted on Dave all her life.  He was her greatest joy.  

Dave had the ideal childhood, growing up in Portage, MI.  His house was the “cool house” with a pool.  His parents encouraged everyone to hang out at their home.  He had friends and even cousins that lived in town and all were welcome.  Dave was lucky enough to have his best friend, Kent Boyer, living next door on Avon Street. 

As a boy, Dave loved model trains, cars, planes and helicopters.  As he grew older his interests grew too.  He was “a man of a million hobbies.”  He loved music and made the very best mixed tapes long before they were popular.  He also had many jobs as a young man including the theater and airport.

Dave attended Portage Northern High School and played football for their team.  He graduated in 1977 and went on to study at GMI (General Motors Institute) and Western Michigan.

Dave used his education and experience to begin his career in sales.  He started at General Motors Saturn Division as a line worker in the factory.  After a time working there, he was recruited by Gerhing LP of Farmington Hills, where he would stay for over 20 years.  During his career he worked in sales—selling machine tools.  

Dave met his first wife, Elizabeth, when they were in high school.  They were married in 1977 and had a daughter, Sena, together.  

Dave met his second wife, Tracy, through mutual friends while he was a Harbor Captain.  Together they welcomed two children, Karissa and Daniel.  

Dave met his fiancé, Nanci, at the Rusty Nail in Canton, MI.  They started dating in 2007 and were together ever since.  They had 9 wonderful years together.  Dave and Nanci’s children all agree that their parents really began living life when they met each other.  

Dave and Nanci moved into their home in Canton.  There, the two families blended to become one.  His children and grandchildren became Nanci’s and the same was true for hers.

Dave’s love of his hobbies continued on throughout his adult life.  He played golf with Nanci…and she would always win!  He was a big sports fan and cheered on U of M, the Tigers and the Lions.  He loved to putz around in his well organized and immaculate garage—the floors were so clean you could eat off of them.  He liked to build things like the bar, workroom and entertainment area in their basement and the bar and patio in their backyard.  Despite his impressive work in the basement, everyone would always end up hanging out in his garage.  He loved photography, remote control cars and boats.  There was a time he raced Formula 4 and dirt bikes. He continued to enjoy Formula 1 racing and would take Sena with him to races.  His love of music continued and he listed to all genres— but he especially loved the Doobie Brothers.

Dave enjoyed traveling.  He and Nanci visited Florida and Las Vegas.  They purchased a new camper, which he dubbed, “the Carleton”, as in the Ritz Carleton because it was very fancy.  The two enjoyed camping all over Michigan—to places like Interlochen, Traverse City, Oscoda, Ludington and Grand Haven.  

Dave was a responsible, dedicated and hard working parent.  He was a rule follower who never cut corners.  He believed in doing things the hard way because that was the right way to do anything.  His daughter, Sena, will remember his amazing hugs that made her feel safe and secure.  She remembers laying on his chest and him smelling like hydraulic fluid and Chaps cologne.  He would hold his grandchildren in the very same way—always making them feel so loved and that he was proud of them.  Dave loved watching football with Dan and playing Fantasy Football with both Dan and Kara.  Those who loved him will remember him saying, “drive fast, take chances”, whenever they would leave his house.

Dave found great joy in his life.  His grandchildren brought him the most happiness.  By his example, he passes down to them the importance of hard work and dedication and the gift of unconditional love.  He will be remembered for his integrity, his determination and his generous spirit.

David Riley passed away on May 30, 2016, after a hard fought battle with cancer.  He was the loving fiancé of Nanci Wallace.  He was the dear father of loving fiancée of 9 years Nanci Wallace, children Sena (Andrew) Jeruzal, Karissa Riley and Daniel Riley and step children Laura (Ryan) Prominski and Lynda (Jimmy) Harris.  He was the beloved grandfather of the “Fab 5”, Austin, Annaliese, Maggie, Logan and Morgan.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Linda and Donald Riley.  

Visitation will be Thursday from 2pm to 8pm and Friday at 10:30am until the time of celebration of Dave's life at 11am on June 3, 2016 at McCabe Funeral Home in Canton, MI.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Prostate Cancer Foundation (pcf.org)