David Lee Meling, 75, of Ottawa, passed away on Tuesday evening, June 13, 2023 at Pleasant View.
A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 23, 2023 at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa, with Rev. Harold Flach, of Crossbridge Community Church, officiating. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Friday, at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park.
David was born on August 18, 1947 in Ottawa to Truman and Betty (Breitenkamp) Meling. He was a graduate from Ottawa Township High School and University of Illinois Dental College. Dave married Judith Iverson on September 7, 1968 in Ottawa. Dave loved being a dentist and helping anyone in any way he could. He received a Fellowship to the Academy of General Dentistry. He was past President of the Illinois Valley Dental Society. Dave was also active in the Boy Scouts with his son Eric. He was a soft-spoken introvert and a gentle soul with an iron will. Dave loved hiking and wore a path between the timber near his home to the Illinois Canyon. He enjoyed reading, feeding the birds, hunting, gardening, nature, archery, woodworking, refinishing old furniture, and most recently, making monkeys out of peach pits with his dental engine.
He is survived by his wife, Judith; three children, Anne Marie (Donald) Meling Wick, Kristen Lee Meling, and Eric David (Katie Adelsberger) Meling; three granddaughters, Torino Olivia Wick, Josephine Eleanor Wick, and Linnea Adelsberger Meling; two brothers, Gary (Joyce) Meling and Robert (Ann) Meling; and a brother-in-law Gerald Lubshina.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Gloria Meling Mason and Merrilee Meling Lubshina; and a brother-in-law Arthur Mason.
He was laid to rest in the Garden of Prayer.