Obituary of David H Triebel

On Saturday, November 30, 2024, David Henry Triebel, faithful servant, wonderful husband, patient father, and truly great carpenter, passed away at the age of 81. “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’” Matthew 25:23.

Dave was born on July 9, 1943, to Ernest and Alice Triebel in Fairhaven Township, MN. As the youngest of 5 children in a farming community, Dave learned the important life skills of working hard, taking pride in what you do, and always helping others. Dave began his career in carpentry after graduation from St. Cloud Vocational Tech. He married the love of his life, Nancy, in 1965 and there was no stopping their many adventures together. Dave joined the Air Force 1967 and served his country honorably until 1971, including a deployment to Thailand and Cambodia. After his military service, a move back to Fairhaven brought Dave closer to family. With a lunch box filled with bologna and strawberry jam sandwiches and Twinkies, Dave joyfully made the daily commute to the Twin Cities for 36 years to work as a carpenter, foreman, and superintendent at Berg Construction Services, Inc. His craftsmanship, especially complex trim work, can be seen in homes throughout the Twin Cities, the Vikings stadium, and on “This Old Home.” Dave could be found chopping wood, eating peanut M&Ms, or building furniture in his workshop while listening to country music in his “down time.” In retirement, Nancy and David were winter road warriors filling their days with RV travel, making friends at every rest stop, and enjoying many hours at Habitat for Humanity job sites around the US. In the summers and after RV travel ended, Dave guided other volunteers at Habitat for Humanity projects in the Twin Cities with his friend Tony. He patiently advised his grandsons, Sam, Martin, and David, in the building of their “shack.” Dave was so proud to see a love for construction transfer to his family and other volunteers. A man of few words, Dave could always be counted on to dispense some wise advice or zinger over a good bismark, apple fritter, and coffee. You always had to listen carefully to get the good stuff from Dave!

Dave is joyfully reunited in Heaven with his wife, Nancy, his parents, his sister, Jeannette, and brother, Leroy. He is celebrated by his two daughters, Dawn Hipp-Horton (Parke) and Shannon (John) Wolkerstorfer and his two sisters, Arlene Schauer and Shirley (Dale) Fischer. Dave was amazed and proud of his grandchildren Haleigh, Carsen, Sam, David, Martin, Brooke (Jeff), and Carter. He treasured his extended family and many old and new friends.

Dave was provided excellent care and lots of opportunities to learn new things by the caring staff at the Flagstone Presbyterian Homes. Fiercely independent, the Flagstone, Genevieve, and Optage family supported him in every step of his brave journey! Dave lived with a rare degenerative condition, Pure Autonomic Failure, and was a research study participant at Mayo Clinic, including his final selfless act of donating his organs and tissues to help advance research in this area.

Dave will be honored at Fort Snelling National Cemetery at a later date.

If you wish to honor Dave, a gift to one of the following organizations that he treasured would make him smile: Habitat for Humanity (https://www.tchabitat.org/donate/memorial-gift) and Flagstone Presbyterian Homes (please indicate memorial for David Triebel) via mail to Presbyterian Homes Foundation FBO Flagstone, 2845 Hamline Ave. N, Roseville, MN 55113.