February 20, 1935 - May 2, 2024

C. David Lundquist of Kalamazoo died peacefully on May 2, 2024. David was born February 20, 1935 in Plainwell Michigan, the only child of Leonard (Lefty) Lundquist and Esther (Hinga) Lundquist.

Growing up in Plainwell, David graduated from Plainwell High School in 1953. He attended the University of Michigan and graduated in 1957 with a bachelor’s degree in political science. While at the University of Michigan, David served for three years as a student manager of the University of Michigan football team. He was a life member of the Michigan Letterwinners “M” Club and had season tickets for Michigan football games for 64 years. Following college graduation, David attended the Duke University School of Law and graduated with his law degree in 1960. In 1997 David was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Adrian College.

David was blessed with the love of two wonderful women in his life. He first knew Georgia Townsend when they started kindergarten together in Plainwell. David and Georgia were married in 1957 and enjoyed a happy marriage for over 55 years until her death in 2013. Quite unexpectedly three years later love came again to David. A year and a half after the death of Sue Paul’s husband, Doug, David and Sue realized that the long friendship they and their late spouses had known since the early 1960s had become much more than friendship. David and Sue were married in December 2016.

Following law school graduation, David served for two years in the Trust Department of the former American National (now Fifth Third) Bank. He then began a 24-year career in general law practice in Kalamazoo, first with Hinga, Schmiege and Lundquist and later with the Ford Kriekard Law Office.

David was actively involved in leadership in The United Methodist Church. In 1986 David became the General Secretary (CEO) of the General Council on Ministries of The United Methodist Church. This agency of Methodism was responsible for the coordination, evaluation and research for the programs and ministries of the worldwide United Methodist Church. David’s work as General Secretary involved extensive travel in the United States and internationally, including Zimbabwe, Australia, China, the Philippines, Brazil, England, Germany, Switzerland, Russia, and other countries. He was instrumental in electing the first woman bishop of the United Methodist Church, Marjorie Matthews , and worked tirelessly to remove barriers against gay clergy and same-sex marriage weddings. He was a member of the World Methodist Council Executive Board and an accredited visitor to international meetings of the World Council of Churches.

David is survived by his wife, Susan (Morse) Paul; children Anne Lundquist, Tom (Diana) Lundquist, and Sarah (David) Leskovec; grandchildren Andrew Lundquist-Wentz (Andrea Gedeon), Chelsea Lundquist-Wentz (Michael Bartlett), Riley Lundquist, Zoe Leskovec and Alex Leskovec, and great grandchildren Rowan Bartlett, Kit Bartlett and Mira-Jayne Townsend Gedeon. He is also survived by Sue’s children Brian Paul (Johanna Nilsson) and Mark Paul (Sharon Turner) and their children.

Family members who preceded David in death are his wife, Georgia (Townsend) and his parents Leonard and Esther (Hinga) Lundquist.

All are invited to come and sing in a choir for David Lundquist’s memorial service on June 22 at 2:00 pm at Kalamazoo First UMC. We will be singing a simple piece entitled "May the Angels Lead You into Paradise” by Arlen Clarke. If you would like to participate, there will be a short rehearsal at 1:20 pm, prior to the service. If you have any questions or would like to receive the music ahead of time, please email Jackie Stilger at [email protected].

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the First United Methodist Church, in c/o the funeral home.