David Carl Salminen

David Carl Salminen, age 74, of Escanaba passed away Saturday, April 6, 2024, at St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay, WI. He was born January 31, 1950 in Owosso, MI and was the son of Walo and Dagmar (Swanberg) Salminen. Dave graduated from Walled Lake High School in 1968. While in high school, Dave and his friends would camp in the Chatham, MI area and attended the U.P. State Fair. At the fair is where Dave met the love of his life, Gail! Dave, and the former Gail Irving, married on May 15, 1971 at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Escanaba. Dave attended Northern Michigan University and graduated with an Industrial Arts degree in education in 1972. He then taught school in the Hanover-Horton School District for three years, before moving to Escanaba in 1974. He was employed in Escanaba by Harnishfeger Corporation and later with Mead Paper Company. Dave then went back to his true passion of education. He accepted a position as an Industrial Arts teacher at Rapid River Schools, then moving to the elementary school principal. During that time, Dave received his Master’s Degree in School Administration from Northern Michigan University. Dave then worked in the Escanaba school district serving as principal for many of the schools retiring as school principal, for Lemmer Elementary School in 2001. After his retirement, Dave worked as a mechanic at Four Seasons Small Engine Repair. Dave enjoyed sailing fly fishing, coaching youth hockey, and car racing with his cousin Lou. Dave later found great joy in restoring the family homestead farm, in Chatham, to its original condition.

Dave is survived by his wife Gail; sons Matthew Salminen of Columbus, OH, Adam (Ean Nicole) Salminen of Davison, MI; brothers Roger (Evaughn) Salminen of Goodrich, MI and Scott Salminen of Claire, MI; step brother Larry Bovan of Farwell, MI and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother Robert Salminen.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Sunday, April 21, 2024 at the Anderson Funeral Home in Escanaba. Funeral services celebrating the life of David Salminen will be held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday at the Anderson Funeral Home Chapel with Linda McDonald officiating. A luncheon will be served following the funeral services at the Log Cabin Restaurant. Burial will take place in the Chatham Cemetery. In Lieu of flowers memorials can be directed to the Youth Assistance Program (YAP) of Delta County of the Escanaba Youth Hockey Program.

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