David Arthur Enochson

With heavy hearts we announce the passing of David Enochson, a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He was surrounded by his loving family at the time of his passing. He was preceded in death by his mother, Hazel Clare Enochson, father Howard James Enochson, Alexandra Ackerman (precious granddaughter) and cherished son-in-law Timothy Allen Ackerman. He is survived by Carol Kathleen Enochson, his wife of 67 years, children Amy Carol, Kathleen Pearl, Chris Enochson (Kendra) and Laura Jo Ackerman. Grandchildren Rebekah Akervik (Daniel), Carolyn Doornink (Jeffrey), Samuel Pahr (Lynthany), and Joseph Pahr, Avery Enochson(Rodrigo) Caroline Enochson, Grant Enochson, Jeffrey Ackerman (Erin), and Christopher Ackerman. Great-grandchildren Chloe, Carolann, and Jonathan David.

David grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota on Grand and Fairview Avenues. He then moved out to Idaho in East St. Paul, where he lived with his mother and Grandfather. He was baptized at a church camp through First Baptist Church in St. Paul. He earned every Sunday School Bible memory pin available as a child. He was continually active in the Youth Group and Boy Scout Troop at the church. He enjoyed the guidance of Frank Steinhauser, the church organist that provided transportation to all of David’s events at church. David continued through his life to enjoy great organ musicians, especially Bill Chouinard, often introducing himself as the President of Bill’s Fan Club. He worked his entire youth as a paperboy and set pins at the bowling lanes. Then he worked at the railroad but decided to purchase the Phillip 66 Service Station on Cleveland and Grand. Later he was employed by Consumer’s Milk Dairy and then finally Northwest Airlines where he enjoyed a long career as a mechanic. He worked for 35 years and proudly retired.

Much to his mother’s chagrin, he grew to love fast cars and their mechanical workings. He participated and competed in many stock car races and demolition derbies, donning only his football helmet. He and his pit crew would race home to fix the cars and race again. He related many stories about his friends and their cars over the years and attended many races throughout Minnesota and Canada.

Dave was a self-taught musician on the guitar and piano. He and his three best friends formed the group called “The Four Elites” named for Elite Bowling Lanes they worked. They often competed in talent shows. Dave played the guitar as they focused on close harmony. He taught himself by “ear” to pick out popular tunes from the radio to play on the piano. After he completed the tunes, he adapted the pieces for four hands. He taught all this music to his children and enjoyed many hours at the piano playing Slaughter on 10th Avenue, Piano Man, On Christmas Day in the Morning, and many others. He would point out that the later piece closely followed I saw Three Ships, but he preferred the John Denver rendition with the Muppets, so that is what he taught.

David met Carol, the love of his life, at 18. Though they went to the same schools, they never knew each other. They had a “chance” meeting at the White Castle on Seven Corners in St. Paul, after midnight, with friends, and continued to date. During this time, Dave was trying to decide if he should enlist in the Navy or marry. He enlisted in the Navy, but when a clerical error was made at the physical appointment, and he alone was not called at the end of the day, and his name did not appear anywhere on the list, he decided that this was his sign to marry Carol.

Dave married Carol in 1958 and bought a Phillips 66 Service Station on Grand and Fairview in St. Paul. The next year they welcomed their first of four children and moved to the brand-new suburban-style development Orrin Thompson was building in Cottage Grove, a neighborhood that was quickly rising out of Beldon’s corn fields. They welcomed three more children while David completely remodeled and refinished the entire upper and lower levels of their home.

Though the Jeep was purchased and converted to be the snowplow for the station, it came home and occupied one of the first garages on the block in 1965. David provided many Jeep rides to the more than 100 children that lived on his block and many others. The little engine could be heard circling Grey Cloud Island amid the screams and laughter on those wild rides. When he was not plowing snow for others in Cottage Grove, he pulled floats with the Jeep for the Winter Carnival Royalty in many parades. When the royalty could not appear, his granddaughters stepped in. He restored the Jeep to look just like a replica of General Paton’s WWII jeep. Later, he and his jeep and family participated in many Cottage Grove Strawberry Festival parades, proudly representing Beyond the Yellow Ribbon.

David was a staunch patriot. He instilled his deep love of country and respect for the people who served, in his children and family. He installed the first flagpole on his block and had his children practice raising and lowering the flag properly and flag folding skills. He volunteered many years of service to the Boy Scouts of America as the Scout Leader. He accompanied the Scouts on many high adventures and loved Philmont the best. He created many patriotic tribute presentations that he shared with the community. He was extremely proud that he saw some of his children, Chris David Enochson (Navy) and his wife Kendra (Navy) and Tim Ackerman (Navy) his son-in-law, and Laura his daughter, Tim’s devoted Navy wife; answer the call to military service. Later, David’s grandchildren Samuel Pahr (Army), Jeffrey Ackerman (Marines) and his wife Erin Ackerman (Marines) followed in their steps answering the same call.

When the Northwest Airlines pilots went on strike, the mechanics supported them. Dave and many of the NWA employees that were laid off in Cottage Grove worked at the Ashland Refinery in St. Paul Park, doing whatever they could to provide for their families. Carol and many of her neighbors learned to prepare creative but frugal meals. He also worked in construction and was om the crew that built the ice arena in River Falls during this difficult time. Snow plowing and pulling floats in the parades also helped support them.

No matter what was happening in the world, David took his family camping. He preferred very rugged survival camping. This meant making everything we needed, including table, chairs and the “loo”. His family knew no other way to camp and were incredibly surprised to learn that the world did not really camp this way. The family of six would pack into his 1964 Chevy Impala and head north to the Gun Flint Trail and camp on Birch Lake. Everything they needed fit in the trunk, and nowhere inside the car. Every trip included a tire blow-out and closed service garages.

He was an active member of his church. He and his family attended fellowships gatherings, potlucks and pig roasts and many other activities. David worked on many projects over those years providing any service he was called upon to do. He and Carol were always participants in many Bible Studies, small get-togethers, and card game evenings over the long span of their marriage. They especially enjoyed playing cards with Dave and Marie Johnson. David grew up with Marie Johnson, but Dave Johnson, her husband, was fast to become Dave’s best deer hunting buddy.

David had many interests including woodworking, carpentry, reading and leatherworking, but enjoyed everything about deer hunting and shooting sports. He took anyone who wanted to learn on deer hunting trips that eventually became entire family vacations. He was a dedicated shooting instructor at the Oakdale Gun Club and taught several grandchildren this disciplined skill.

He was an avid WWII history buff, reading all the time and participating in lively family discussions. He would host several movie nights, screening just about every war movie for his grandchildren and many other fun movies like Laurel and Hardy, the Marx Brothers and Bugs Bunny. David was introduced to classical music and opera through Bugs Bunny Saturday matinees as a child and passed this love onto his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. New Year’s Eve was celebrated for many years with a screening of Laurel and Hardy’s “The Piano,” submarine sandwiches from Clark’s and root beer floats. The party started after he got home from his second shift job at Northwest and ended in the wee hours of the morning.

In retirement Dave enjoyed curating his lawn and helping Carol plant beautiful flowers in the several blooming gardens in their backyard. He and Carol also went on many camping adventures “Out West” and around the North Shores of Lake Superior. They were tickled to pull the little “Scamp”, set up camp and enjoy the view of the lake. They never tired of the view of Lake Superior. He once scouted for property on the North Shore, but because of the drive and the shift work, he decided against the purchase but never stopped renting cabins and visiting.

David also spent many hours teaching his grandchildren the art of leatherwork. David made many leather-tooled purses, belts, and holsters not only for his wife and family, but friends as well. He stamped each creation with his maker’s mark, a distinctive signature followed by, "Talent from the Lord". He entered some of these items at the Washington County Fair and the Minnesota State Fair, winning several blue ribbons and grand champion ribbons.

As the years went on, slowly his children and grandchildren came back to live in the Grove. He and Carol were just tickled that many of his close neighbors were now his family members. He took great pride in being the lawn mower for many of those yards. He would ride and mow, meticulously creating perfect rows across the grass. This was his favorite thing to do in his later years. He didn’t want to be thanked, as it was most likely a big Thank You from him, for us all moving back home to be close to Mom and Dad once again.

Although David’s family mourns his passing, we have great joy in celebrating that he is no longer in pain and is now with his loving Savior. His life has inspired us to reach for the best, to develop great skill and to love well. Though he is gone now, he has left his indelible imprint on each of us, and he will remain forever in our hearts. We know you are at rest now and you will always be remembered.

A private family memorial service and celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Operation Ackerman, a foundation created after the passing of his son-in-law, Tim. Information about Operation Ackerman can be found at www.OperationAckerman.org.