David Wack

David Michael 'Dave' Wack died Thursday, January 30, at Salem Regional Medical Center, at the age of 78.

Dave was born on his parents' farm in Winona on December 7, 1946, to John Ray and Helen Marie (Van Arsdale) Wack. Dave grew up in Berlin Center and graduated from Western Reserve High School in 1965. Dave joined the Air Force after high school and served seven years, training as an electrician and rising to the rank of Sergeant. He worked in manufacturing his whole life, retiring from General Motors in 2012.

The summer after he graduated high school, Dave met Julie Gossiaux. Dave and his cousin Richard Biery were running an ice cream truck. One day, as they were selling ice cream in Sebring, two high school girls approached the truck, one of them a little shyer than the other. Julie says that, when she saw Dave, her heart skipped a beat. Dave and his cousin asked the young ladies on a double date, and Dave and Julie have been together ever since, marrying September 9,1967.

Dave's job in the Air Force took them to Rantoul, IL, Hampton, VA, and Springfield, OH, but they returned to Northeastern Ohio in 1973 and stayed, living in Alliance, Beloit, Berlin Center and Salem over the years. During that time, they had two children, Margaret and Joe.

In 1975, Dave and Julie attended a dinner theater production at the Memorial Building in Salem. After the show, Dave boasted to his friends that he could do as good a job as the actors in the show. The director walked by, overhead him and challenged Dave to show up at auditions for the next show, which he did.

Dave was cast in that play, Design for Murder, which kicked off a deep love of theater which he carried throughout his life. Dave performed on stages all over the region, at Salem Community Theater (SCT), Carnation City Players, Stage Left Players, Youngstown Playhouse and others. Some of his favorite parts include King Arthur in Camelot, Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire, Pseudolus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, the Stage Manager in Our Town and over a hundred other roles over the next forty-five years. He directed many plays, built incredibly sturdy sets and served on the board of SCT.

His deep love of learning led him to go back to school in his thirties. He worked full-time on the night shift and went to school during the day, with a double-major in Theater and Spanish. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Mount Union in 1982.

Dave was a loving grandfather, and delighted in spending time with his grandchildren Shianna, Riley, Spencer and Duncan.

Dave is survived by his loving wife Julie and his children, his daughter-in-law Megan Joplin, grandchildren and his younger brothers, Doug and Chris Wack, as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his older sister Janice Delp and his younger brother Dan.

Dave will be remembered by all who knew him as kind, hard-working, and dependable. He was known as a man who would go out of the way to help people. He was devoted to his entire family and adored his wife. He loved telling jokes, was a life-long Cleveland Guardians fan and took great joy in Mount Union football's success. His family will miss him more than words can express.

A Celebration of life service is planned for April 5,2025 at 4PM at the Salem Community Theater, 490 E. State Street in Salem. Arrangements have been made by Brown Funeral Home, Salem Chapel. (330) 337-6363, www.BrownFHonline.com.