David Michael Gilchrist

To view the livestreaming of David's service, click on Tribute Wall above and then the link to the service.

David Michael Gilchrist was born to Bill and Lois Gilchrist on October 4th, 1962, during the Cuban Missile Crisis on October 4, 1962, at Westover Air Force Base in Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts. His father, Lieutenant Colonel William Gilchrist, a B-52 pilot was on high alert status, while the family (his mother Lois and brother Scott) were restricted to base. David was first baptized into the Lutheran faith by his grandmother (Florence Rabe) and two months later by the pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church of Springfield Massachusetts.

Growing up in a military family that moved a bit, David grew up strong, fearless and learned to adapt to changing environments, easily making friends and opening doors wherever he went and had skills that would serve him well throughout his life.

David, the Athlete

David was gifted in many disciplines,

·Joining brother Scott on the Bellevue East state champion quest (almost, until we dropped the baton) 200-meter relay team.

·Kicking the game winning (no time on the clock) 32-yard field goal for the Bellevue Chieftains, he had never kicked in a game before, to beat cross town rival Creighton Prep.

·Earning a spot on the University of Nebraska football team as a walk-on running back.

·Later transferring to the University of Nebraska-Omaha where he finished college football career.

·Honing his skills on the golf course, playing at storied courses across the country.

·And with brother Mark was a self-taught, kamikaze-style downhill skier, avid hunter and outdoor enthusiast.

David, the Businessman

While David studied Business Administration at both UNO and UNL, he was eager to begin his business career and started early, parlaying his job as an entry-level telemarketing agent while in college to running one of the largest telemarketing divisions in the Southwest managing seven telemarketing service centers across the country for West Teleservices in San Antonio, Texas. In later years he also served as an international telemarketing consultant which included a 6-month stay in Jamaica.

In 2005, David flexed his entrepreneurial muscle to launch what would become his true business passion, opening his first restaurant - HuHot Mongolian Grill in San Antonio. Over 17-years, David grew the business to be one of the top performing HuHot’s in the nation. David was entering his second year at his 2nd HuHot location at the time of his death.

David, the Pilot

David yearned to fly - a love no doubt inherited from his father, a highly decorated Air Force pilot. So, in his 30’s, David learned to fly small aircraft.

David’s mother and father schooled their children on the beauty of the outdoors, and David spent many years fishing and hunting with his father, his brothers Mark and Scott and his beloved chocolate lab Kuda. He explored the mountains of the Southwest on his BMW touring bike and hiked the mountains of Colorado. David was also an avid goose and duck hunter where he spent countless hours and years hunting and training with his best friend Kuda Bear. David would often times return home to Iowa and loved spending time with his mom

David was full of life and touched many lives. He was loved by his family, friends, neighbors and his employees. He will be greatly missed by all.

David is survived by his mother Lois Gilchrist and brother Scott Gilchrist (Micaela Gilchrist), brother Mark Gilchrist (Regi Gilchrist) and Nieces Randi (Gilchrist) Stone, Madison & Alison Stone, and nephews Jamie Sash, Ian Gilchrist & Harrison Stone and Preceded in death by father Lieutenant Colonel William E. Gilchrist, grandparents Ben and Florence Rabe, Bill and Leatha Gilchrist, uncle Merlin Rabe, aunts Shirley Rabe, Donna Rabe and Adine Pack.