David Robert Kreifeldt

David (Dave) Robert Kreifeldt peacefully passed away on July 27th at his home surrounded by family. He was born on April 18th, 1945, in Manistee, Michigan to Dorothy (Ferguson) and Leonard Kreifeldt. The middle of three boys, he grew up in Michigan skating on iced-over ponds, playing sandlot baseball and collecting mushrooms in the woods. He graduated from Mount Clemens High School, a member of the National Honor Society.

He attended college at Western Michigan where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Library Science. During school, he was a DJ at the college radio station, joined the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity and was a member of the Army ROTC. While in college he married Carol (Stachon) and welcomed his first son David (Dave) Jr.

Soon after college, he was commissioned in the Army as a second lieutenant becoming an intelligence officer. After his second son Richard (Rick) was born, the family was stationed in Germany for two years. He then served at an intelligence outpost in a small village in Vietnam for a year. He would serve for eight years on active duty crisscrossing the US several times in a camper van, with his family, between posts in order to see this beautiful country. He spent another thirty years in the Army Reserves, retiring as a Colonel. Some of the many highlights while in the reserves included swearing in his son, Dave Jr, into the Air Force, swearing in step-son Mike into the National Guard, swearing in step-son Gordon into the National Guard 19th Special Forces, and managing reserve deployments to Desert Shield/Desert Storm. He was extremely proud of his service to our country, and loved to put on his uniform for his grandkid’s school veteran programs.

Dave was a devout Catholic and always gave to his community. At St Vincent’s parish he co-lead the folk group for many years, was a scout leader for a decade, served as a lector, and was famously an announcer at the annual Fall Festival.

After Dave and Carol divorced, Dave later married Luana Morgan Birch and they were together for 39 wonderful years. He welcomed the Birch bunch and expanded his family with two adult step-children, and another three step-sons to raise. They blended their lives, their families and their religions. While still remaining active in his own faith, he also participated in Luana’s Ward, for example singing in the Ward choir.

He worked for the State of Utah for over 30 years, starting with Job Service, then spent the majority of his career at the Office of Recovery Services, and ended in emergency planning, working on major disaster plans for the state.

He loved golf, picking up a love of the sport from his father. A huge Utah Jazz fan, Dave compiled stats for the TV and radio broadcasters which gave him a prime seat right behind the Jazz bench. He always had a woodshop humming with projects making toyboxes, tables, bookshelves, and many other beautiful things. Dave and Luana traveled the world, loved to go on cruises, and spoiling grandkids.

Dave is survived by his spouse Luana, brother Jim Kreifeldt, sons Dave Kreifeldt Jr. and Rick Kreifeldt, stepchildren Gordon Birch, Heather Birch, Rob Birch, Mike Birch, Bryan Birch and 23 grandkids and 13 great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents Dorothy and Leonard and brother William Kreifeldt.

A viewing will be held from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm on Friday, August 7th at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 E 10600 S, Sandy Utah

A memorial service will be held at 12:00 pm on Saturday August 8th at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 9757 South 1700 East, Sandy, Utah with a visitation/viewing at 11:30 am. Following the memorial, a graveside service will be held at Larkin Sunset Gardens.

To view David's service online via Zoom, please click the tab above that says "Watch Services".