David Gerrish 04/24/2024

David Samuel Gerrish, age 56 of River Falls, WI, died on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at Regions Hospital in St. Paul Minnesota. David passed away after a courageous battle following a tragic accident. David was born August 22, 1967, in Milwaukee and was adopted by Judith (Frederickson) and Samuel Gerrish. David grew up in Ellsworth, Wisconsin and was a graduate of the class of 1986. He was a gifted athlete, dedicated student, and an all-around kind person to all he met. David has three siblings, Anne Gerrish (Georgia), Andrew Gerrish (Massachusetts) and Jennifer Gerrish-Lampe (Iowa). David played basketball, football, baseball, and participated in Boy Scouts, with his father Sam, as his leader.
He attended the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and later transferred to the University of Minnesota and received his bachelor’s degree in mortuary science in 1990. He worked for several years as a funeral director and later transitioned into his lifelong career as a financial advisor with Ameriprise Financial in 1992. He was an ethical and supportive advisor who worked diligently to create genuine relationships with his clients.
David opened his financial advising business in River Falls, Wisconsin and that is where he met, and later married his former spouse, Molly (Meyer) Gerrish, in 1999, Together, they were blessed with two daughters, Quinn and Maggie, who they both love dearly. They have maintained a respectful and caring relationship and co-parented their children with respect and love. David’s two daughters, Quinn Carman Gerrish, age 18, a senior at River Falls High School, and Maggie Katherine Gerrish, age 16, a sophomore at River Falls High School were the light of his life. David truly loved watching his girls participate in all their activities and was a constant at all of their games and events. David volunteered as a coach and thoroughly enjoyed the time spent mentoring and supporting the girls and their teammates, he also served as a member on the RF Basketball Association. Dave loved having deep conversations with his daughters and challenging them to be strong young women. David was a hard worker and truly a one of a kind person. Of all his accomplishments, his greatest role was that of being a dad.
David had many hobbies including working out, listening to music, going to concerts, traveling with friends, and watching sports. However, his all-time favorite hobby was being with his friends. David was a loyal and dedicated friend to all he met. He truly valued his friendships and maintained relationships with friends from across all areas of his life. He loved his classmates and was always an avid planner of class reunions and trying to connect with everyone. He was blessed with strong college friendships from both UW-L and U of MN, and he had many, many enduring relationships with his River Falls friends, the “Thursday Night Crew” and many more. Dave was a loyal and beloved River Falls community member, you could often find him at a high school sporting event, community event, Fighting Fish game, or just around town. He was truly a friend to all. He saw his friends as an extension of his family. David loved to sing and do karaoke and could always be counted on to share a song or a story while out and about. David also loved quoting movie lines and was even known for wearing his favorite movie lines on his t-shirts. David is known for his smile, his dimples, and his contagious love of life. He truly loved every moment of life and lived it to its fullest. Dave told his daughters to “Choose Wisely,” wonderful words to live by. Dave is known for being a connector of people, for being kind and friendly, being welcoming to everyone he met, and a loving father. He will be missed greatly by all who loved him. Dave’s family would like to thank everyone for their care and concern and for sharing support as they navigate this great loss.
He is preceded in death by his father, Sam Gerrish; and both his maternal and paternal grandparents. David is survived by his daughters, Quinn and Maggie; mother, Judith; siblings, Anne, Andrew, Jennifer, and many other relatives and friends. His legacy will live on in his daughters, his brotherhood with his many beloved friends, his connection to the Gerrish, Meyer, and Elder families, and all the clients he helped throughout his career. His smile will live on in our hearts.
A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, May 19 4:00pm-7:00pm at the River Falls Golf Club, 2120 E Division St, River Falls, WI 54022. A ceremony will begin at 5:00 with time for sharing stories, songs, and laughter. If you have a special story or memory, please bring this to share. If you have any photos, you would be willing to share with Dave’s daughters, please feel free to bring them.
A private family burial will be held at a later date. David’s presence will be profoundly missed, but his memory will live on for all who knew him.  Memorials will be designated for Dave’s children’s education and future. Cremation Services provided by Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services.