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David Emmenegger
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — David Edward Emmenegger, 73, passed away peacefully at his California home outside of Clearlake Oaks on Dec. 10, 2024.
Dave was a lifelong resident of Oregon, having been born and raised in Tillamook on a dairy farm. The youngest of five siblings, Dave was of Swiss heritage with both sets of grandparents coming from Switzerland. His paternal grandfather was a cheese maker, and his father was a dairy farmer in Tillamook.
Dave loved growing up in Tillamook and embraced his heritage as well as his Catholic upbringing. He attended grammar school at Sacred Heart Academy and Tillamook Public High School. One of his favorite memories was showing their dairy cattle for FFA at the Tillamook County Fair.
After high school Dave became a builder and built many beautiful homes that are still present today in Tillamook and surrounding counties. In 1985 he made a career change and launched what would become Alderbrook and Associates Lighting which he ran for 39 years until his retirement in 2024. During these many years Dave received numerous awards for excellence in the lighting industry. His love of people and his word, which was as solid as a written contract, endeared him to almost everyone he met.
In 1998 Dave relocated to Woodburn, Oregon where he purchased his forever home and lovingly remodeled it into a beautiful and welcoming home. Dave was active in the St. Luke’s Parish in Woodburn and has many friends in the community.
Dave never lost his love of agriculture and had several restored 1970s vintage John Deere and International tractors. He spent many happy Saturday mornings having coffee with several retired and still working farmers that he enjoyed visiting with and sharing stories of farm life.
Dave was the President of the Portland Swiss Sportsman from 1984 to 1986 when it was renamed Portland Swiss Inc. in 1986. He again served as president from 1995 to 1996. During his membership they organized and produced the Portland Saengerfest in July of 1993.
In October of 2019 Dave took over as president of COS, Confederation of Oregon Swiss, whose goal is to establish a Swiss Park for the use by all of the Swiss clubs until he passed the reins in 2023.
Dave was an avid traveler both national and internationally where he met many wonderful people who became lifelong friends. In 2009 he met Anne Garner at a dance class in Elko, Nevada, where they were both attending the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering. This chance meeting evolved into a 16-year love affair. They shared many wonderful adventures traveling to see old friends and making new friends along the way. Many of their adventures involved their love of dancing, one of their favorites being the Cowboy Christmas Ball in Anson, Texas.
Dave is survived by his life partner, Anne Garner (Clearlake Oaks); two sisters, Dolores Emmenegger (Clearlake Oaks) and Carolyn Naegeli (Portland); and a brother Frank Emmenegger (California) as well as several nieces and nephews and numerous cousins.
He was predeceased by his brother, Phil Emmenegger and both of his parents, Frank and Anna (Nufer) Emmenegger.
Dave never met a stranger, and he touched too many lives to even count. We invite all of you who knew and loved Dave to share a celebration of life at the McMinnville Grange Hall in McMinnville, Oregon (1700 SW Old Sheridan Road, McMinnville, OR 97128) on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 from 1 to 4 p.m.
Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com.
