David John Lupton

David John Lupton was released into eternal life with Jesus and the loving arms of his son Mark on Monday, October 26, 2026.

He was born to Esther Ruth (Reis) and Clyde Lupton in Akron, OH on September 26, 1943. He attended grade school and two years of high school in Tallmadge, OH with the final two years spent in Van Wert, OH where he met the love of his life, Melva, at a church youth group. After his high school graduation, he followed Melva to Upland, IN where they both attended Taylor University. Dave and Melva were married in Van Wert, Ohio on June 20, 1964, and moved to Anderson, IN where Dave served as a minister. Their son Mark was born on Dec. 2, 1967. Dave continued his ministry in Cardington, OH where he attended Methodist Theological School in Ohio at which he received his Master of Divinity and subsequently served at a church in Cleveland.

Their daughter Amy was born on April 6, 1972. Shortly after, their next stop was in Van Wert, OH where Dave’s storied sales career began at his family’s business, Ag-Vent Supply, where he and Melva eventually took ownership. After Ag-Vent, Dave continued his sales career in La Crosse, WI, Decatur, IL and eventually landed in New Berlin, WI. Dave, along with his partner Howard Arnson, purchased General Stamping and General Stamping Engineering Systems which later became D&H Industries. For 10 years, they alongside their wives, and eventually his daughter Amy, grew the business until it was sold to new owners in 2007. Dave and Melva were devastated to lose their beloved son, Mark, that same year. In 2009, they joyfully welcomed their grandson Mark Charles David Boakes who Dave was so very proud of.

Since the sale of the business, Dave lived his retirement life to the fullest. He and Melva enjoyed travelling throughout the United States and many different countries throughout the world with his favorite trip being a chartered catamaran yacht in the Virgin Islands. They enjoyed spending their winters at their home in Gold Canyon, AZ. Dave volunteered in different roles in churches throughout the years doing everything from helping those less fortunate, being the animated auctioneer at the annual golf outing, acting as a liturgist and helping in the audio video department. He and Melva loved meeting new faces as they walked their beloved standard black poodles, two Luckys and Christian, and found time to swing a club or two in between his many activities.

Dave was a force. He lived hard, loved hard, played hard and worked hard. He was a risk taker living his life with passion and purpose. He was devoted to his family, his faith and his friends. He was dedicated to passing his many life lessons on to his grandson Mark who loved his Papa fiercely. Dave felt strongly that part of his life’s purpose was to bring joy and laughter which in true form occasionally involved pushing the envelope. His desire for human connection drove him to develop relationships with everyone from the grocer, the restaurant owner, pastors, facilities managers, neighbors, friends and business associates. Dave approached life with a devoted sense of equal measures of truth and grace. He was all the things…. compassionate, generous, empathetic, authentic, principled, devoted, committed and radically honest. You never had to wonder where you stood. He will be dearly missed by so many, and his legacy will continue through the many lives he touched.

In Dave’s own words, “My wife is my best friend and companion. My family is the most important thing to me in this world. Flowers are for the living and not the dead. Please celebrate my life and do not mourn my death. I have been the most fortunate of men to have had the experiences and love that have come my way.”

Dave is survived by his wife Melva, his daughter Amy Boakes (Lupton), son-in-law Trevor Boakes, grandsons Mark Boakes, Adam Boakes married to Abi Boakes, great grandson Atlas Boakes, daughter-in-law Tami Lupton (Moser) Dunn and Terry Dunn, sister-in-law Diane Atkins (Mumma), nephews Greg Lupton, Tim Lupton, John Linn and nieces Cherise Heinen (Linn) & Katie Holland (Linn)

He was preceded in death by his parents Clyde & Esther (Ries) Lupton, in-laws Mary Bell Mumma (Hitchcock) & Eugene Mumma, son Mark Lupton, brother Dan Lupton, sister-in-law Shirley “Joan” Lupton (Tharp) and niece Pam (Lupton) Crider.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the following charities or an organization that has personally touched your heart:

Samaritan’s Purse, https://www.samaritanspurse.org/

Arizona Poodle Rescue, https://arizonapoodlerescue.org/

American Diabetes Association, https://diabetes.org/

Dave’s life will be celebrated at First Congregational United Church of Christ located at 815 S. Concord Road, Oconomowoc, WI 53066 on Friday, November 20, 2026. Visitation will be from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm followed by the memorial service, internment and a lunch in fellowship hall.