David Lynn Semrad was born to Herman Melvin Semrad and Lorene Marie Bridgewater Semrad on July 26, 1942, in Enid.
David grew up on a wheat farm in Hunter, Oklahoma, and served in his
youth as an active member and President of Oklahoma 4-H. From a young
age, he developed a love of traveling, camping, fishing and woodworking.
In later years, he was a distinguished member of the Boerne Chapter of
Sons of the American Revolution.
He attended Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma, where he
earned his Bachelor of Arts in English. While at OSU, he met and married
the love of his life, Judy Ruth Rose. He then earned a Master's in
Theology from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist
University in Dallas, Texas, before completing his Doctor of Ministry
(D.Min.) at St. Paul's School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri.
He served as the Associate Pastor of First United Methodist Church in
Great Bend, Kansas, from 1967 to 1969; Director of United Methodist
Campus Ministry at the Ecumenical Campus Center at Fort Hays State
University in Hays, Kansas, from 1969 to 1978; and Director of United
Methodist Campus Ministry in San Antonio from 1978 until he retired in
2008. He ministered to college students and people from all walks of
life, and befriended international students from around the world by
being a host family with his wife and daughters.
David was known as a gentle soul and person of peace.
He sympathized with the downtrodden and was passionate about civil
rights and social justice. A cultivator of relationships and devoted
community action leader, he participated in such community organizations
as San Antonio Communities Organized for Public Service (COPS) and
Metro Alliance.
He led and participated in many international mission projects in Mexico
and Russia, and engaged in a three-month sabbatical in Sao Paulo,
Brazil. His campus ministry included education, dialogue, and outreach
to raise the consciousness of students in the areas of theology, bible
study, social justice, cross-cultural ministry, and community service,
and took such forms as his popular "Hot Potato" lecture series that
included information, guest speakers, and dialogue about current issues,
and "Urban Plunges" in which students experienced the city's transit
system. He was a matchmaker at times and personally performed many
marriages, baptisms, and funerals. He also was a guest pastor in many
local United Methodist Churches.
David passed away peacefully at a local hospital on January 6, 2021. Judy too later died on May 23, 2021.
He is survived by daughters, Tavi Sellers and Staci Semrad; Tavi's
children, Addison Drutz, Suzanne Drutz and Tiffany Sellers; their
respective fathers, Adam Drutz and Mike Sellers; brother, Melvin Semrad
and sister-in-law, Virginia Semrad; sister-in-law Donna Semrad; and
aunt, Helen Semrad Provine.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 5, at Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home in Enid.