David Feiger

David Louis Feiger, age 87, passed away on October 25, 2024 in John Day, OR. David was born on December 23, 1936, to Harold and Anna (Ransom) Feiger, in Traverse City, MI. He joined two older siblings, Fredrick and Carolyn Feiger, and later joined by a younger sibling, Philip Feiger. They grew up in the greater Traverse City area, where he attended high school, graduating in 1955. He attended college at Northern Michigan College after high school, and worked as a carpenter for his uncle Jim Ransom, and at a dairy.

In 1960, David was drafted into the US Army, ultimately servicing with the 4th Armored Division, 126th Ordnance Battalion, Company C as a Tank Turret Mechanic in Germany until 1962, when he was honorably discharged from Service. He returned to Michigan and enrolled in Michigan State University in East Lansing, where he graduated in 1966 with a Degree in Forestry.

In 1965, David married Sharron K. Woodhouse in Traverse City. Upon graduating in 1966, they moved west to Chiloquin, OR where David started a career with the US Forest Service as a Forester and Recreation Ranger for the Chiloquin Ranger District, Winema National Forest.  He would carry on a 22 year career with the Forest Service as a forester and silviculturist, serving on the Klamath Falls Ranger District, Winema NF; Monte Cristo Ranger District, Snoqualmie National Forest; and finally the Prairie City Ranger District, Malheur National Forest. He retired in 1988.   

While in John Day, David fulfilled a lifelong dream of learning to fly, and ultimately building and flying his own homebuilt aircraft. For three years, he crafted a Ken Rand KR-2 in the family’s garage, ultimately flying his airplane in 1983. He would continue flying for another 32 years and 1,500 hours in that aircraft before hanging up his headphones. Highlights of that time included numerous trips to Michigan to see family, as well as frequent flights around his home town valley. His aircraft now hangs in the JD Rents store in John Day.

In “retirement,” David continued to work seasonally for the Oregon State Department of Forestry as a natural resources technician and forester, and served at the John Day Airport, assisting airport managers in the daily operations on weekends. He continued his love of the outdoors, frequently fishing and camping at Magone Lake with his wife Sherry, fishing the numerous streams around Grant County, and hunting ducks and geese, and forest grouse with his sons and dogs Suzi and Taz.

David and Sherry had two sons, Michael David (born 1972) and James Harold (born 1975).

David is preceded in death by his parents Harold and Anna, siblings Frederick, Carolyn, and Philip, and his wife Sherry. He is survived by his sons Michael (and Allyson) and James, granddaughter Kaitlyn, and numerous nieces and nephews.

At his wish, no services are planned. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the American Legion and Legion Auxiliary through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home & Cremation Services PO Box 543 Halfway, Oregon 97834.  Online condolences may be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com