On Friday, Jan. 20, 2023, David Keith Faulkner, adored husband, and stepfather of two, walked unexpectedly but peacefully into Heaven, at the age of 64 and 3 months—too soon.
Dave, as he was known to all, was born on Nov. 3, 1958, at St. Joseph's Hospital, in Wichita, to Keith and Doris (Cox) Faulkner, the eldest of three boys. The family moved to Hays in 1963, where Dave grew up and graduated from Hays High School, in 1976.
He worked a few years in Wichita in aircraft factories, then returned to Hays and worked 22 years as a firefighter, 14 of these for the city of Hays, then 10 years afterward as a welder, for Leon's Welding.
In 2015, Dave impressed a new girl in town, teaching her to weld, which sparked love and adventure in them both. In 2016, he left his hometown to be closer to her, working again as a welder and now supervisor, in Colorado Springs. After a year, he opened Faulk n Berry Metalwork, in Cascade-Chipita Park, Colo.
Dave was proud of the name he invented and soon also to be well known in the region for their many customers and exceptional metalwork. On June 2, 2018, he married that girl, Heather Berryman (originally from Ashland, Kan.), in Cripple Creek, Colo. Guests enjoyed a wedding dinner from a Santa Maria grill, fabricated by Dave and Heather, for their Hays-born-and-raised caterer. The devoted couple rode a whirlwind of newness together, experiencing new love, new family, new accomplishments, and new life—in more ways than one, with Dave fulfilling his a little early.
Dave loved his two stepchildren as his own, excelling in his new roles as father and grandfather. He was still settling into this new life with renewed excitement and many new exploits, such as traveling internationally, dreaming about soon making work his hobby, and planning a train trip to Pittsburgh for a Steelers game, with his new knees.
He was deeply loved and admired and became the glue to his new family. Dave had a passion for mechanical things and could fix just about anything. He loved motorcycles and muscle cars, especially Pontiac GTOs, also firetrucks and trains.
He and his wife fabricated all kinds of things in their business, from industrial tools to wrought iron fences, children's toys to fine art. Dave's true passion though was for his family and friends. He was known and loved for his kind and helpful nature, his snappy wit and an ever-present smile that shined through his wild, handlebar mustache.
Most recently, he was known for his successful recovery from addictions, compassion for helping other addicts, love for his church, and his quiet but deep devotion to Jesus Christ.
Dave was welcomed Home by his dear mother Doris, two greatly missed grandmothers, and a grandbaby whom Dave was one of the first to meet and hold there and who will undoubtedly be taught to weld by Grampa.
Dave is survived by his beloved wife Heather (Chipita Park, Colo.), stepson Ian and wife Danielle, four grandchildren (to whom he was Grampa Choo Choo for the kiddy train he and Gramma built for them), Declan, Jemma, Judah, and new baby soon to be born (Miles City, Mont.), his stepdaughter Shaene (Woodland Park, Colo.), his beloved father Keith and brothers Kevin and Craig, his nephew Cary and niece Katie, paternal Uncle Don and wife Muriel, (all in California), maternal Aunt Marilyn (Halstead), also his parents-in-law Chan and Sue Berryman, sisters-and brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews through marriage, all who adored Dave as their own blood, his many cousins, motorcycle club brothers, work buddies, and his vast number of friends, new and old, all of whom he loved and kept close to his heart.
Dave is already terribly missed by his dog Harley and brokenhearted loved ones, who planned to see him this week, next month, every day..., especially by his beloved wife, who hasn't heard all his wild stories nearly enough times yet. Friends and family will be invited to celebrate Dave's life, in his hometowns of Hays, and Green Mountain Falls, Colo., at memorial gatherings planned for later in spring.