David Lee Jave's Obituary
David L. Jave passed away unexpectedly on December 16, 2022 near his home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was was born July 20, 1952 in Atlantic, Iowa to parents John and Norma Jave who farmed in the Marne and Elk Horn communities. Dave graduated from the Elk Horn-Kimballton Community High School where he enjoyed wrestling and football. After high school he went to Worthington State University where he was on the varsity wrestling and football teams. In October of 1972 Dave was drafted into the United States Army serving as a Combat Area Surveillance Radar Technician at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. After completing his service he continued his studies at Iowa Western Community College, transferring to Northwest Missouri State University, where he received a bachelor of science degree in horticulture. Dave started his career at the Bellevue, NE Earl May Garden Center. He would later move to Tulsa, working at Kingdom Landscape and Stringer Nurseries where he met his future wife. For more than two decades until his retirement, he was the head gardener at the Cascia Hall Preparatory School in Tulsa, where he took great pride in shaping the beauty of the campus. Kelly Melton and Dave were married May of 1983. Together they had one son, Colin, who also lives Tulsa. Kelly passed away December of 2000. Dave was a passionate outdoorsman. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, backpacking, and in the recent years, bicycling. He enjoyed cycling with family and friends during the annual bike ride across Iowa (RAGBRAI). Dave will be remembered as a solid, honorable man who was always good to keep in contact with his friends and family, near and far. He was a faithful Christian throughout his life and was a member of the King of Kings Lutheran Church. He was preceded in death by his parents and wife Kelly. He is survived by his son Colin of Tulsa, siblings John of Columbia, SD, Larry of League City, TX, Barb of Elk Horn, Iowa, Uncle/Aunt Ron and Dorothy Rasmussen of Richland, WA.
A celebration of life gathering will be held on Tuesday December 27, 2022 at 3-7 PM at Floral Haven Funeral Home Visitation Suites. A celebration of life memorial service will be held on Wednesday December, 28, 2022 at 10:00 AM at Floral Haven Funeral Home Chapel.
An internment will be at a later date in the Spring at Elk Horn Lutheran Church Cemetery, at Elk Horn Iowa.
Webcasting is available for those that cannot attend the service in person at the following link: https://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/82534/hash:825F7F22AFA5ED5D
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