David Andrew Minich

David Andrew Minich – beloved husband, father, grandfather (or Bapu, as his grandchildren called him), youth soccer coach, and fishing buddy – passed away at home after a brief illness on October 12, 2026. His wife Donna and son Justin were by his side. David had a deep Christian faith that was reflected in every aspect of his life, and was known for his hearty laughter, eagerness to help others, and commitment to his community. He was fiercely devoted to his children and grandchildren, even and especially when they were at their weirdest and wildest, and he always encouraged them to be their most authentic selves. He will be deeply missed.

David was born in Buffalo, NY (go Bills!), and raised in the nearby suburb of Amherst. When he was young, his parents, Howard and Myra, taught him to paddle a canoe and frequently took him on fishing trips in Ontario – a treasured memory that he passed on to all of his children and nearly all of his grandchildren by paddling with them in kayaks on the waters of the Flint River in southwest Georgia.

A lifelong avid reader and art lover, he majored in English and minored in art at Elmhurst College near Chicago. One day in the cafeteria, he overheard a dark-haired woman in calico-patched blue jeans and a handmade sweater vest recount her terrible experience stranded in a Buffalo blizzard. Rushing to defend his hometown, he met the love of his life, Donna Heisner. They planned to be friends after graduating in 1974 but couldn’t stop writing to each other (long letters on Donna’s end, postcards on David’s – a dynamic recognizable to anyone today who is FaceBook friends with the couple) and decided to get married in 1975.

David and Donna began their life together in Michigan, where four of their five children were born (Julie, Jaimie, Jonathan, and Joshua). David’s natural charisma initially led him to a career as a salesman (first for the American Seed Company, then for Kretschmer Wheat Germ, and finally for a used car dealership) before he and Donna discovered Habitat for Humanity and dedicated their lives to the simple but profound idea that every person deserves a decent place to live. This idea took them to Papua New Guinea, where their youngest son Justin was born, and then to Americus, GA, which all of their children (whether they live there or not) now call home.

Once he settled in Americus, David invested deeply in his community. His wide range of interests enabled him to make friends quickly, and his generosity and humor ensured that his friendships lasted. In particular, he dedicated himself to worship and faith at First Presbyterian Church (where he served as a Deacon and Trained Ruling Elder when there was need for a sermon), to community theater with the Sumter Players (where his final role as Scrooge in the December 2025 production of A Christmas Carol

secured his status as a local stage legend), to fishing and paddling on Lake Blackshear, and to playing and coaching soccer.

David’s beliefs were straightforward, and he lived by them consistently. He believed there are two kinds of coffee and two kinds of beer in the world (good and excellent), but he especially loved his coffee from Cafe Campesino and the beers he brewed at home or drank in a booth at Pat’s Place surrounded by his family. He believed in supporting the arts – especially the performing arts – and that everyone has the capacity to make art even if they aren’t a great talent. He loved reading out loud to his children, and they all know the most arcane details of the Lord of the Rings trilogy as a result (muster the Rohirrim!). He believed in apologizing when necessary, usually with the declaration, “I’m very seldom right, but this time I was wrong.” He believed that you can’t fool an old fool (and his children always knew they were in trouble when he said those words). And, most profoundly, he believed that trust is not earned, it is lost. When he met new people, he trusted them until they gave him a reason not to – and people in return opened their hearts to him. Hearts around the world are a little more empty in his absence, but the world is a better place because he lived in it.

David is survived by his wife Donna; his children and their partners: Julie (Dominic), Jaimie, Jonathan (Michelle), Joshua (Katie), and Justin (Cassie); his grandchildren (Jonah, Conrad, Alice, Adara, Ignacio, Simón, and Amelie); his brother and two sisters in law (Douglas and Lucinda Minich and Joan Minich); his goddaughter Briana; a Minich niece and three nephews (Holly, Brian, Kevin, and Jackson); many Heisner brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, and nephews; and his dog Claire. David was predeceased by his parents, Howard and Myra Minich, by his brother Richard Minich, and by his dogs Habi and Bruce.

A service of thanksgiving for David’s life will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Americus, GA, on Saturday, November 14 at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the following:

● Community Service Ministry, a faith-based collaborative utility bill ministry that brings together several congregations in Sumter County to combine their financial and volunteer resources so those in need can go to one location, once a week, to receive assistance with utility bills. Donations for CSM may be sent to First Presbyterian Church, 125 South Jackson Street, Americus, GA 31709 (write “in memory of David Minich” in the memo line of the check).

● Lights of Love, a Phoebe Foundation initiative to support cancer patients and their families in southwest Georgia. To donate to Lights of Love, send checks (“in memory of David Minich”) to Lights of Love, PO Box 3770, Albany, GA 31706, or

go to the Phoebe Foundation website, select “Lights of Love” from the drop down menu, and note David Minich in the comment box.