David Milton Mulder

David M. Mulder was born on March 19, 1942, in Lansing, Michigan, to Heine and Dorothy (Baird) Mulder. He left for his forever home on August 1, 2024, with the love of his life, Ruthie, by his side. David had a brilliant and out-of-the-box creative mind which he put to amazingly good use. He fully remodeled two of their homes, one of which he put up on 2×12 stilts to fix the foundation! He made beautiful furniture, two wood kayaks and gave of himself through countless gifts of the heart helping family and friends with their own projects. David also freely shared his gift of random pieces of information, earning himself the nickname “Cliff Klaven” from the tv show Cheers. David was a proud, stubborn, dutchman and “you have the right to be wrong.” He worked hard from a young age. David started his career at General Motors as an apprentice die maker working his way up to General Supervisor in Die Tryout at the Lansing plants. In the 1980’s he was involved in teaching Quality of Work Life (QWL) principals to fellow GM workers. David finished his 37-year career as an engineer at the Design Tech Center in Troy helping design the Hummer 3 so parts would go through the production process correctly.

David loved his family fiercely and generously. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Ruth (Merrifield) Mulder, his sons, Stephen (Sharon), Michael (Mary) and daughter, Katherine. His granddaughter, Natasha (Wes) Love, great-grandchildren, Wesley and Lily Ann. Siblings Patricia North, Joe Mulder and Jill (Darrel) Thomas. Sisters-in-law Marsha Mulder, Alna Braun, Lee Villareal, and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents, Heine and Dorothy Mulder, parents-in-love, Dick and Elizabeth (Schryer) Merrifield; siblings, James and Jeffrey; brothers-in-law, Ralph North and Dr. Harry Braun PhD and sister-in-law Nancy (Eldredge) Mulder.

David was a staunch supporter of civil rights for all people, treating people with dignity regardless of where they were in life, and volunteering at Advent House Ministries in the late 1980’s. David was a man of quiet faith and strong belief in God. “God is God, and I am not God.” He loved to travel and discover new places, take the road less traveled and go on boondoggles with his family. He kept us safe during many storms while camping with tent or trailer, standing out in a storm holding up the tent with a family friend. Or rigging tarps to cover our campsite from getting wet. David was equally at home watching a sports game and then turning to the Hallmark Channel to get immersed in the story. His favorite trips taken were the Grand Canyon, the Airshow in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, out east to the wooden boat show in Rockland, Maine, and Mystic Seaport, Connecticut, out west to Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Vancouver Island, and Banff National Park.

A Celebration of David’s life is being planned for a later date. In lieu of flowers, David would be joyful for donations to be made to a homeless charity of your choice.