David Bigelow

THEBES, Ill. -- David Lee Bigelow, 75, of Arnold, Mich., and Thebes passed away Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, in Thebes, after a long courageous battle with cancer. His beloved companion of 23 years, Meridy Sundholm, and a brother, Les Bigelow, were by his side.

He was born May 4, 1938, in Louisville, Ky. He graduated from Fern Creek High School in Fern Creek, Ky., in 1956.

David enlisted in the United States Navy in March 1957 and served as a communication specialist aboard the USS Rochester and USS Platte. He was honorably discharged in April 1961.

He moved to Gwinn, Mich., in 1967 and was a federal civil service employee at K.I. Sawyer AFB as an electronic specialist.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Mildred (Schehr) Bigelow; a brother, Joseph "Buddy" and sister-in-law, Barbara Bigelow, all of Louisville.

David is survived by his beloved companion, Meridy Sundholm of Arnold; children, Michael (Susie) Bigelow of Rockford, Mich., Jessica "Jessie" Flinn of Gwinn and John (Susan) Bigelow of Charlestown, Ind.; a sister, Mary Lou (Carl) Smith of Okeechobee, Fla.; two brothers, Steve (Jody) Bigelow of Athens, Tenn., and Les (Judy) Bigelow of Mt. Eden, Ky.; grandchildren, Amanda, Brandi, Erik and Alex Flinn, Suzann, Sarah, Olivia and Bryan Bigelow, David (Kelsey) Bigelow, Kaleila and Grace Bigelow; Meridy's children, Sean (Celina) Sundholm and Betsy (Derek Pogirski) Sundholm; Meridy's grandchildren, Elayna, Shawna and Marty Sundholm; several nieces and nephews; many friends, especially Jim Monahan and family, Alan Schlamer and Evelyn Schlamer in Thebes, and Garret Livingston of Marble Hill, Mo.

David loved life and lived it to the fullest each and every day.

With this in mind, his family and loved ones will be celebrating a ceremony of remembrance and visitation from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Eastern time Saturday at Wells Township Hall on County Road 426 in Arnold.

The funeral celebrating his life will follow the visitation. Interment will be in Forest Home Cemetery in Watson, Ill.

A luncheon will be served in the Township Hall at the conclusion of the service.

Local arrangements were handled by Crain Funeral Home in Tamms, Ill.

Expressions of sympathy and online condolences may be directed to the Bigelow family at andersonfuneralhomes.net.