David Ice Obituary

David Robert Ice was born on November 30, 1936, in the Martin's Ferry, Ohio, hospital to parents Roy Frederick Ice and Catherine Morgan Farnell Ice. He died at LMH Health on November 4, 2021, after suffering a heart attack.

David's father worked for a local US Steel Corporation mill and was transferred to McKeesport, Pennsylvania in 1940 as the war effort ramped up and new steel mills were built. McKeesport became one of the consummate booming steel mill towns along the Monongahela River in southwestern Pennsylvania, and it was a heavy influence on David's entire life. While in high school, David played trombone in the band and was on the tennis team. He graduated from McKeesport High School in 1954, briefly attended Allegheny College, and graduated with a business degree from Cleveland State University, Evening Division, in 1968.

In 1955, David married Jean Shaffer. Five children resulted from this marriage: Larry (Deborah), Toledo, Ohio; Linda Ice Theodossiades (deceased 1999); John (Judy), Raleigh, NC; Jeffrey (deceased 1992), and Martha (Jack) Webb, Smithville, MO.

He married Diana Dague in 1978 in Sylvania, Ohio. They raised his daughter Martha and Diana's two daughters, Sara Dague Shull (Kevin), Cambridge, MN, and Emme Dague Amble (Chad), Carnation, WA. Diana remains at home in Lawrence.

Dave's business career began in 1962 with Williams and Company in Cleveland, Ohio, as a department manager and outside salesman. He joined Aeroquip Corporation in 1968 and had various sales and marketing management positions in Los Angeles, CA, Lawrence, KS, Jackson, MI, and Cranbury, NJ, until 1992. That year he became the vice-president sales and marketing for U.S. Axle, Inc., Pottstown, PA. In 2000 after a move back to Lawrence, Kansas, a town he loved, he founded Ice & Associates, Inc. as a Manufacturer's Representative. During these employments he had international responsibility for major customers such as John Deere, Caterpillar, and others in the heavy equipment industry.



David joined the Manufacturer's Agents National Association (MANA) in 2000 and became a district representative, board member, Chairman of the Board of Directors from 2009 to 2011, and Ex-Officio Chairman from 2011 to 2013. He earned a CPMR certification from Arizona State University in 2009.

David's lifelong interest in music led to many opportunities. He and Diana were members of the Benjamin Locke Chorale in Toledo, the Lawrence Civic Choir (1979 to 2020) where he was President for three different terms, and local church choirs wherever he lived. He and Diana enjoyed participating in eight European concert tours - six with the Lawrence Civic Choir, and two as guest members of the GlenEllyn Wheaton Chorale.

Church related activities were important to Dave. In addition to being involved in the music events in each local church, he served on various boards and committees, usually in a fundraising capacity, wherever he lived.

He loved Theatre Lawrence, and he was a past member of the Theatre Lawrence Board of Directors.

He will be missed by 21 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life is planned for Saturday, November 13, at 11:00 am, at River City Church, 3001 Lawrence Avenue. Memorial gifts in David's name may be made out to River City Church, and sent to the church at 3001 Lawrence Ave, Lawrence, KS 66047.