David William Garen, age 89, of Rudyard, Michigan, passed away peacefully surrounded by his four children on September 24, 2024, and the Ball Hospice House in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. He was born on May 26, 1935, in Carrollton, Ohio, to John and Annie (Lake) Garen.
David worked for General Telephone after he graduated from high school. He met Janet Harris, who also worked for the telephone company, and they married on March 3, 1956. They started their family, while living in lower Michigan, until 1964, when they moved to the Eastern Upper Peninsula. After a couple of years, they settled in Rudyard.
David enjoyed gun collecting, going to shows, fixing guns and swapping them. He could be found on his tractor often, where he would be doing work around his property.
David is survived by his daughters, Iris (Rod) Jarvi and Gale (Jerome) LaJoice; son, Chester Garen; daughter, Darlene (Bill) Garen-Bradford; grandchildren, Daniel (Tina) Garen-Belleville, Preston (Brooke) Belleville, Kelsey (Keith) Hagerty, Chad (Kathy) LaJoice, Curt (Jill) LaJoice, Annie (Dustin) LaChapelle, Jeremy (Liza) LaJoice, Lauren Garen, Tonya Martens, Emily Martens, Jeannette Martens, Cole Garen, and Alicia Garen; great-grandchildren, Kylie, Jordan, Jerzie, Sebastian, Hunter, Zane, Abby, Ian, Sophia, Alexandra, Justin, Jaymission, Ivy, and Israel; and one great-great-granddaughter.
David was preceded in death by his wife, Janet; daughter, Ardis Garen; son, George Garen; parents, John and Annie; and sons-in-law, Jerry Belleville and Jerome LaJoice.
Per David’s wishes, no services are being held at this time.
Final Resting Place will be at Oaklawn Chapel Gardens, in Bruce Township, Michigan.
Family Life Funeral Homes assisted the family with arrangements. Condolences may be left to the family at www.familylifefh.com.
