WELLS, David Allen 1947 - 2023

WELLS, TOPPING, MCGLOTHLEN, THOMPSON, WILSON, CALVIN, CAPLAN, SCHWERIN

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 5/28/2023 at 15:09:57

"Southeast Iowa Union / Fairfield Ledger"
Tuesday, May 23, 2023
Page 6, Columns 2 and 3

DAVID ALLEN WELLS
Fairfield

David Allen WELLS, 75, of Fairfield, was welcomed into the arms of Jesus at 4:30 a.m. Friday, May 19, 2023, after being hospitalized at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City (note: in Johnson Co., IA). Just as in life, his wife was by his side at the time of his death.

A visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 25, 2023, at First Baptist Church in Fairfield. A celebration of life will follow at 11 a.m. All family and friends are invited to stay for a luncheon to be served in Fellowship Hall. A private family burial will be held on what would have been David's 76th birthday on Sunday, May 28, 2023, at Winchester Cemetery in Van Buren County.

Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Fairfield or the Lord's Outreach Assisting Families (L.O.A.F.) Program. Cards and memorials may be mailed to Connie WELLS, 2287 Highway 1 South, Fairfield, IA 52556.

David was born on May 28, 1947, at Jefferson County Hospital in Fairfield, Iowa, to Esmond and Evangie WELLS of Stockport. He lived with his family in Stockport for the entirety of his youth and graduated from Van Buren Community School District, class of 1965.

Even as a young child, it was evident that David would serve as a protector and defender of all creatures great and small and would always walk by faith rather than sight. While he was growing up, David attended First Christian Church in Stockport. As a teenager, he invited Jesus to inhabit his heart. David went on to consistently share that it was the best decision he ever made, and he spent the remainder of his life living the tenets of his faith. When he was a young boy, John 3:16 became David's favorite Bible verse, and for the rest of days, he held that verse dear.

If accepting Christ was the best decision he ever made, making Connie TOPPING his wife ran a close second. Neither of them could remember when they first met; they simply remember always knowing one another. David's mother, Evangie, and Connie's mother, Ava TOPPING, were best friends. David was the youngest of 10 children; Connie was the youngest of seven. These two large farming families' lives were intertwined in countless and constant ways. Their union always appeared planned and ordained by God, and nobody was surprised when David finally asked Connie on a date. They were inseparable from that first date on, so much so that the phrase "David and Connie" became akin to "peanut butter and jelly." They were married on August 31, 1969. They had been married almost 54 years at the time of his passing.

Their 53-plus years were filled with life, love and adventure. When they were first married, David and Connie lived in Mount Pleasant where he was finishing his secondary education. He graduated from Iowa Wesleyan College with a degree in sociology. After graduation, he accepted his first job as a social worker for the state of Illinois and the couple moved to Galesburg. In 1971, they had their first daughter, Angela Marie. They later moved to Alexis, Illinois where David continued to work as a social worker. Their daughter, Rebecca Sue, completed their family in 1974. David, Connie and their girls returned to Iowa in 1979. They resided in rural Libertyville before building their current home south of Fairfield. David worked for the State of Iowa in the Health and Human Services Department in Jefferson County. He remained employed there until his retirement in 2007. In all, he spent 40 years in service to humanity, and he was a constant voice for children and for others whose voices may not have otherwise been heard.

His faith and love for the Lord only grew in his marriage to Connie. David had the heart of a servant and as a result, he served God and his fellow man in countless capacities over the years. After moving to Fairfield, he and Connie became active members of First Presbyterian Church. They shared daily devotions, and in recent years, they committed themselves to reading the Bible in its entirety annually. They read through the complete Bible six times; they were in the Book of Daniel at the time of his death.

In addition to his love for the Lord, his family, and his friends, David was passionate about many hobbies and pastimes, and he manufactured his own fun wherever he went. Family members and friends fondly remember David and Connie singing together all of the time. A few of David's other favorite things include the color blue, Hawaiian shirts, shorts, sandals, desserts and eating them first, and blowing bubbles. His most strongly-held bubble belief was, "The bigger the better," and over the years, he honed his soapy sport to precision, much to the delight of children and adults alike.

David had an incomparable and infectious laugh. He particularly enjoyed the movie "Dennis the Menace" and he had a deep affinity for the Muppets. He was especially fond of Miss Piggy. No matter how many times he'd seen the movies or an episode of "The Muppet Show," they'd reduce him to raucous laughter time and again. His family and friends will always remember him sitting in his recliner in the living room, sharing stories, telling tall tales and howling.

Perhaps it was David's strong connection to the Lord that made him most at home in his Father's world - the outdoors. He was a master gardener and was forever puttering among his plants. He said the soil was his canvas and flowers were his chosen medium. Over the years, he provided a loving home for a menagerie of animals including Monarch Butterflies, chickens, peacocks, lambs, and dogs. He trained dogs as a boy. Once, when his parents left him alone, he went to the animal shelter and brought home several dogs; to his dismay, they made him return him all (sic).

In his final hours, David continued to talk about his love for the Lord and people. "I just love everybody," he said. The final advice to be imparted was a reminder to love one another, remember that every day is special, family is such a blessing and they should both be treated accordingly.

David is survived by the love of his life and forever bride, Connie; daughter Angela (John) McGLOTHLEN and their children, Emily and Ethan; daughter, Rebecca THOMPSON and her children, Carter and Claire; Connie's three remaining siblings, Bill TOPPING, Margaret (David) WILSON and Janet CALVIN; Connie's sister-in-law, Mary TOPPING, and countless nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Jim, Marvin, Don, Charlie, Henry, Andy and Larry WELLS; and his sisters, Pauline CAPLAN and Esther SCHWERIN. David was the last of the WELLS siblings to be called home.

Online condolences may be made to the family at behnerfh.com.

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*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

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