David Werth, 82, of Bullhead City, Arizona, peacefully passed away on August 20, 2022.
He was born December 10, 1939, in Schoenchen, Kansas, the son of Anastas and Anna (Jacobs) Werth. As a teenager, David moved from Schoenchen to La Crosse, Kansas, where he worked as an auto body repairman. In September of 1961, he married Barbara Vanderbur, and together they had four children: Monica, Mitchell, Michael, and Monte. In 1966, the family relocated to Salina, Kansas. David was hired at Warta Buick as an auto body repairman, then moved into sales, and over time became the general manager of Warta Buick. Still in Salina, David changed careers in the mid '70s. He began to build custom homes, formed Werth Inc., and developed an apartment complex and condominiums.
In May of 1986, he married Rita Hassell in Aruba, and together they had a son: Matthew. While living in Aruba, David sold timeshare at Playa Linda and they built a home. The mornings were spent walking on the beach and enjoying the island climate. In 1993, they moved to Florida where he was a self-employed entrepreneur. In 1996, they moved to Bullhead City, Arizona where David went back to his roots and got his auto auction license and started restoring cars for resell. In 2005, they moved to Kingman, Arizona, built a custom home essentially by themselves, and would live there for the next 13 years. In 2018, they made their final move back to Bullhead City and built their retirement home. David was a man of many talents. In retirement, David and Rita continued to stay busy turning motorcycles into trikes, restoring boats, cars, golf carts and RV’s for resell. His hobbies included dancing, playing cards, puzzles, and watching sports.
Survivors include his wife Rita of Bullhead City, AZ, a daughter: Monica Stephenson and husband Kevin of Broken Arrow, OK, four sons: Mitchell Werth and wife Dawn Yarbrough of Broken Arrow, OK, Michael Werth and wife Alice of Philadelphia, PA, Monte Werth of Salina, and Matthew Werth and wife Samantha of Loveland, CO, two sisters: Annabelle McMillan and Norma Jean Jacobs, both of Fort Collins, CO, his mother-in-law, numerous brothers and sisters-in law, nieces, and nephews of Aruba, eight grandchildren: Nikki, Jason, Alex, Kressley, Katie, Mason, Mikayla, and Kaleb, and eight great-grandchildren: Jadon, Bryson, Camdon, Dixon, Sutton, Makai, and twins Rylan and Logan.
He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings: Hedwig “Hattie” Degenhardt, Georgine “Jean” Freighberger, Julius Werth, Marvin “Whitey” Werth, Doris Amerin, Elsie Werth, and Thelma Rowdan, and his father-in law.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 9:00 AM on Thursday September 15, 2022, at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Schoenchen. Inurnment will follow in St. Anthony Cemetery.
Condolences and memories of David may be shared with his family through Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home at www.haysmemorial.com