David L. Theisen

David L. Theisen of Kent, Washington passed away on Saturday, July 27, 2013. He was 70 years old. David was born on July 9, 1943 to Nicholas and Theresa Theisen. He was raised in Aurora, Illinois before moving to Spokane, Washington in 1965 to attend Gonzaga University. David graduated from Marmion Military Academy in 1961. He served in the U.S. Army from 1962-1965. David graduated from Gonzaga with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in English and minoring in History. He received a Masters of Education degree with an emphasis on educational administration in 1989 from Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA. David had a passion for learning and he could always be found reading a book or two. It was because of that passion that he taught elementary school for a total of 34 years in the Kent (WA) School District. Thirty of those years were spent at one school, Soos Creek Elementary. He also taught at Covington Elementary in the Kent School District. For most of his professional career and beyond, David was active in his professional association at all levels. He served as Kent Education Association President and was the recipient of the Award of Excellence and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the KEA. He served on the Board of Directors for the Washington Education Association for several years and was elected to the Board of the National Education Association three times, for a total of six years. David was the chairman of the WEA’s Documents and Resolutions Committee for 23 years from 1990 to his death in 2013. David is survived by his two sisters, Jean Sheldon (Dennis) and Merilyn Theisen; nieces Theresa Linkletter (David) and their children Andrew, Matthew and Lauren; Mindy Melvin (Kris) and their children Derik, Abigail and Rebecca; Jennie Tennis (Jay) and their children Nicholas and Jackson. He was also survived by the brother he never had, Gordon Fisher (Laurie) and very special friends Tim Clark (Jo), Bob Sandstrom (Lisa), Jim Scheeland (Bonnie), Bruce Stendal (Pam Morris-Stendal), David Talkington, Scott Floyd, Laura Renz and many more. David had two families – one in Aurora and one in Kent, Washington In addition to his parents, David was preceded in death by his two sisters, Mary Patricia Mallette and Helen Abbott, and a niece, Sherrie Lloyd. The family will be receiving guests on Thursday, August 8, 2013 from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the funeral mass at 10:30 a.m. at Annunciation Church. Internment will follow at Assumption Cemetery, Wheaton, Illinois. Memorials in David’s name can be sent to: The Washington Education Children’s Fund, PO Box 9100, Federal Way, WA 98063-9100 or to the Kent School District for the purpose of purchasing library books for Soos Creek and/or Covington elementary schools. The Kent School District address is 12033 SE 256th Street, Kent, WA 98030-6503.

David L. Theisen

July 9, 1943 - July 27, 2013