David Tober

C. David Tober, 51, of Benton Harbor, went to meet his Lord & Savior on Sunday, September 7, 2003, at Metron Health Care in Lamont, Michigan following a stroke and complications in April. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 9193 Cleveland Avenue, Baroda with Rev. Kenneth Babcock officiating. Burial will follow at Millburg Cemetery. Family and friends may call on Thursday from 5-9 p.m. at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church or the Berrien County 4-H Foundation, c/o MSU Extension. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guestbook online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. David was born May 31, 1952, in Benton Harbor to Harold & Marian (Birr) Tober. He graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1970 and attended Lake Michigan College. Dave earned his Journeyman’s Apprenticeship as a Tool & Die Maker at Weldun International in Bridgman. He then founded and ran a machine shop, Great Lakes Tool & Die. In 1981, David designed and patented the Rod Guard? Welding Electrode Storage Cannister & accessories and was the Founder, President/Owner of K.I.W.O.T.O., Inc. in Benton Harbor which currently manufacturers and distributes the Rod Guard? line to wholesalers both nationally and internationally. David, affectionately know as “Dr. Dodge” and “Mr. Mopar” throughout the racing scene, was an active second generation avid stock car racing fan and driver. As a young man, he raced motorcycles at the Millburg Speedway; he actively built and raced his own cars at Hartford Speedway Park, Kalamazoo Speedway and many other area racetracks over the past 20+ years. His love of racing, which he inherited from his father, has been passed on to his entire family (aka “The Purple Gang”), who always participated with him. His daughter, Allison and wife, Donna have also raced at Hartford. David was an avid NASCAR fan and member. During 1996, Dave sanctioned and ran MATRO, LLC., a traveling Truck Racing Series throughout Michigan, Indiana & Wisconsin. He also built and co-owned a car for the NASCAR Goody’s Dash Series that ran at the Daytona International Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway and other Super Speedways across the South. When he wasn’t involved in racing or running the business, Dave was totally committed to attending and participating in his daughters’ various activities including school Basketball and Volleyball games, dirt-biking and snowmobiling on the farm and many 4-H functions. David thoroughly enjoyed socializing with his friends at Roxy’s Brown Lantern, where he was a regular coffee drinker. His favorite sayings were: “If it don’t have wheels, it ain’t a sport,” and “Ittabeallright!” He will be sadly missed by all of his dear friends and loving family. ?Always and Forever, #14!? David is survived by his wife, the former Donna Maier, whom he married April 14, 1984 in Baroda; four daughters: Jamie (Tony) Eslick of McGuire AFB, New Jersey; Allison, Amanda & Alexis Tober, all at home; two grandchildren: Michael & Noelle Eslick; his mother, Marian Tober of Dowagiac; a brother, Kerry (Carol) Tober of Lakewood, CA; three sisters: Kathy (Larry) Pierquet of Coleman, WI; Cindy (Randy) Howard of Lawrence, MI; Leatha (Michael) Snider of Syracuse, NY; mother-in-law Carol Maier of St. Joseph; father-in-law Ron (Jean) Maier of Berrien Springs; sisters-in-law: Deb (Bob) Grossi of Rockwood, Maine and Cindy (Eric) WoodBury of High Point, NC; several nieces & nephews and his two beloved canine companions: Buckshot & Kelsey. He was preceded in death by his father, Harold in 1984.