David John Tucker

David Tucker was born August 8, 1967 in Boise ID to Geraldine and Raymond Tucker. Born the
6th of 7 children and the fourth boy, David was born into a family of great love, strength, and
cohesion, but also a family sorely in need of a shortstop.

David was not long for Idaho though and soon departed for the wilds of GA in a journey that
took him past his future home in Monument, past the farm where his wife is born, past the
mountains he loved, past the stadiums, summits, and schools that today celebrate his children’s
triumphs and David’s coaching skills, past the mountains where he found solace, adventure,
and earned the special confidence attained by those the mountains look to with respect, and he

drove past the mountain of his death, a mountain which now stands as a monument to this
extraordinary man.
All of this was invisible to David at the time, strapped into a 1960s bassinet riding on the floor of
a 1960s station wagon and occasionally bounced on the knee of an older brother or sister as
the car creeped east. Many adventures await David before his return to Colorado but return he
will.

But for now, David was a passenger in life—trundled with his family from Georgia, to Riverside
CA, then Louisville Kentucky until the Tuckers settled in Colorado in the early 1980s as David
started his 11th year of school, bursting onto the Mullen High School scene with his strength of
personality, sense of humor, and extraordinary athletic skills; his classmates and teachers read
these words with sorrow 39 years on.

Following graduation from Mullen in 1985 David attended the University of Northern Colorado.
The first night of orientation David responded to a knock on his door and answered to find
angels singing and Karen Stehle—-“the most beautiful woman I have ever seen” —-the woman
who became his love, his wife, and the mother of his children—-standing in the doorway. She
needed to borrow toilet paper.

Thus began one of the greatest love stories ever told. David and Karen married August 10,
1991, and together formed a love and family that has endured through all of life’s triumphs and
despairs; a love established by David and Karen, a love that permeates every aspect of life, and
a love that will endure through generations. This remarkable marriage produced remarkable
children who carry their father’s legacy into the future. David loved his children with great
ferocity and tenderness. Dylan (05/28/1995), Karoline (08/29/1999) and Kimberly (08/30/2001)
were his greatest joys, his strongest loves, and all three reflect the greatness of spirit and
character that personified their father.

The Tucker family started on the plains of Kansas, moved to Simi Valley CA in 1993; Simi Valley
saw the births of Dylan, Karoline, and Kimberly. The family moved to Monument CO in 2005 and
settled into their community of faith, school, and friends.

David’s happy place was with his family—whether coaching his children in basketball, teaching
them to ski, hike, fish, camp—David loved the outdoors, and what the outdoors teaches, and he
imparted that love through skill, personal example, and humor. David lit up a room. The energy
of a place changed when he entered. His sense of humor, common sense perspective, and the
deep love of his family was always on display in his laughter, his energy and his words.

David passed very suddenly on the slopes of Mt Herman following a successful summit. His
hiking partner and best bud, Scott—- performed CPR for over 60 minutes while waiting for
rescue teams. The family expresses our deepest love and appreciation to Scott for his heroic
efforts to save David.

David is predeceased by his parents, Geraldine and Ray Tucker, father-in-law, Sam Stehle,
brothers in law, Anton and Tony, and his nephew Jason. David is survived by his wife Karen, his
children Dylan, Karoline, and Kimberly, his brothers Craig (Elizabeth), Brian (Therese), Michael
(Christie), James (Margaret) and his sisters Kari (Rick) and Marybeth (Anton d. 06/27/15) and
numerous nieces and nephews.

David left the world a lesser place for his passing, but a much better place as his legacy to
family, friends and community. He is one of the best men God ever made.

Donations may be made to Wholly Kicks (Whollykicks.org), Benton Habitat for Humanity
(Bentonhabitat.org), and El Paso County Search and Rescue (epcsar.org)

Services will be held at 2pm at Trinity Lutheran Church, 17750 Knollwood Drive, Monument CO,
80132.

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