David Neil Wobker
David Neil Wobker, age 66 of Redmond passed away from cancer on Sunday, September 18, 2016 with his family by his side.
David was born May 5, 1950 in Kansas City, MO, the third child of Betty and Burle Wobker. He attended schools in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Kansas City, Missouri and Omaha, Nebraska. In high school he studied abroad in Peru, sparking a lifelong passion for travel. He attended college at Fort Hayes State and graduated from the University of Texas El Paso in 1972.
In 1972 he met the love of his life and best friend, Heidi Wobker at flight attendant training for Eastern Airlines. They married one year later, were based out of Puerto Rico and traveled the world together. They later moved to Atlanta, Georgia where they had their two children Ben and Kristin before eventually moving to Redmond in 1986.
Following the move to Redmond, Eastern went bankrupt, and so after 20 years as a flight attendant David started completing his Master’s degree at Seattle University to become a teacher.
In 1993, David began teaching in the Lake Washington School District; he taught for over 20 years and retired from Horace Mann Elementary in 2015. Mann was just blocks from his home, he often walked to school, and was also the school his children had attended. David had a passion for teaching and advocated for teachers and students. Given his passion for world travel, he loved geography inspiring students to travel the world. He worked hard to ensure students loved school by embedding projects, humor, a classroom turtle, and suspense in never knowing which themed tie he might wear. He loved teaching and showing students that learning is fun.
When he wasn’t teaching, David was often walking around Education Hill and downtown Redmond. He was a fierce advocate for the community through various city council activities including over 15 years on the Design Review Board. Additionally, he was an online salesman combining his love of pop culture and music on Ebay to sell music items to people all around the world. He loved the communication from fellow collectors and the thrill of the hunt at second hand stores.
In retirement, David most enjoyed the time with family; playing with his grandsons whom he loved more than anything. However, his favorite hobby remained traveling and planning for upcoming travel. Heidi and David were travel companions visiting all 50 states, and over 30 countries; he had an immense love for Iceland and cruises. Heidi was his best friend and she encouraged him, and supported him through his recent cancer diagnosis. They took their final cruise together this summer.
David was the BEST father (and father-in- law), most loving husband and proudest Grandad. He always put others first, was loved by many, and will be greatly missed.
David was preceded in death by his Mother, Father, Sister (Mary Jo) and most recently Brother (Thomas). He leaves behind his wife of 44 years Heidi; his son Ben and his wife Sara and grandson Trajen of Kirkland; and his daughter Kristin Courtney and her husband Nate and two grandsons Charlie David and Thomas Michael of Kirkland. He is also survived by numerousloving relatives, students, neighbors and friends.
Services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, October 1st, at St. Jude Parish in Redmond. Donations in memory of David/Mr. Wobker may be made to the Horace Mann PTSA (http://horacemannptsa.org).
