David Leon "Pops" Cuykendall, age 69, of Monroe, passed away Saturday, October 15, 2022, surrounded by his family after a courageous battle with cancer.
Born July 3, 1953, in Monroe, Michigan, he was the 4th of 11 children born to Charles and Arleen (Colton) Cuykendall. Dave graduated from Airport High School while working at the dairy farm in Scofield. He did factory work in Milan, Michigan before working for the former Conrail Railroad, taking a medical retirement in 1991. Dave then worked for Complete Packaging from 1995 until 2016 when he officially retired.
On November 8, 1974 he married the love of his life, Debra Hess, in St. Louis, Missouri. From the 48 years of marriage, came the birth of their children, James David and Amber Lynn.
Pops favorite thing to do was watch his kids and grandkids do the things they enjoyed. He also enjoyed woodworking, hunting, fishing, demolition derbies, working on his 1970 Chevelle and hanging with his "buds" in his garden.
Pops will be greatly missed by many friends and family including his wife, Deb. His children, James (Beth) and Amber (Jimmy) Sivil; his grandkids, Mark "Hollywood", Jake, Jana "Sis", Beyonca, Joey, AJ and Daniel, they will never forget the memories and the love their Poppy had for them. He is also survived by his best friend and loyal companion, Bear; his sisters, Paulette "Sue" (Chuck) Smith, Lois Bruck, Alice (Jack) Bashaw and Tammy Green; his adopted brothers and sister, Duane and Kenny Cuykendall and Brandy Hamilton; father-in-law, Roger (Margaret Ann) Mackey, sisters-in-law, Dawn (Jamie) Wood, Sherry Cuykendall and brothers-in-law, Keith Kruse and Greg (Kim) Mackey.
Waiting for h is Poppy in Heaven, with a beer in his hand and a party ready to go, was his oldest grandson, Tyler Weaver. Dave was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Arleen; mother-in-law, Shirley Jean (Mackey) Culberson; siblings, Sharon Kruse, Diana Phelan, Charles Cuykendall, Gerald Cuykendall, Sr., Robert Cuykendall and Dale Cuykendall and brother-in-law, Arnold Bruck.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 19, 2022 from 2 to 8 p.m. at Bacarella Funeral Home, 1201 S. Telegraph Rd., Monroe, where funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, with Rev Roy Southerland officiating. Burial will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park.
Online condolences and special memories may be shared with the family by visiting the obituary page at www.bacarellafuneralhome.com .