David Robert Amundson

David Robert Amundson, 42, passed away on March 1, 2024, after a hard-fought battle with acute myeloid leukemia. David was born on November 29, 1981, in Mankato, Minnesota, to Robert and Luann (Barnes) Amundson and grew up in the Columbus area, graduating from Reynoldsburg High School and later The Ohio State University. He is survived by his wife and the love of his life, Lindsay, and young son, Benjamin "Benny" Amundson, of Worthington, Ohio, and his father, Robert Amundson, of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. He is preceded in death by his mother, Luann, and beloved cousin, Amy Friederichs.

It is hard to put into words the void created by Dave's passing. He was truly an original; a one-of-a-kind, unique being. He was generous beyond measure, extremely hard-working, and took enormous pleasure in providing for his friends, but more importantly, his family. He always brought the party and rarely wanted it to end, providing the space, (way too much) food, the drink, the music - whatever it took - and it was never surprising when he was the last man standing. His authenticity was unmatched. You knew exactly who he was and what he stood for, and no one could convince him otherwise. A contrarian to the max, he got the greatest pleasure out of challenging expected norms and pushing people out of their comfort zones. No joke was ever too inappropriate, and he had a laugh and smile that would light up the darkest room.

Dave could easily be described as a renaissance man. He had many talents and interests from tabletop gaming; turning his backyard into a sanctuary/resort for plants and horticulture; cooking, grilling and smoking every type of food under the sun; and of course, his innate love of music. From The Eagles to Beethoven to Billy Joel to David Allen Coe, he loved and played it all. He was a trumpet player in The Ohio State Marching Band for four years while earning a degree in piano performance. He was also known to gravitate to every piano he saw in the wild, never failing to play a song or two, even if there was signage clearly indicating the instrument was off limits. Dave was not one to follow the rules…ever. Even when his wife explicitly told him not to buy a massive dinosaur statue for their backyard, he was not deterred. The dinosaur remains a neighborhood landmark. He loved the water and would probably live in it if he could, spending countless hours lounging in his pool - another "essential" purchase. He was also a great businessman. In 2017, after several years of working in the pest control industry, he started his own successful extermination business, Cavalry Extermination. He built not only an impressive list of clients, but by the end, a collection of people he could call his friends.

He was a magnanimous presence that the world will never know again. He was so loved by so many - a truly special man who left a massive-sized hole when he left the Earth. There are no words to express how much he will be missed by those who loved him, and maybe even those who didn't.

A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Sunday, April 21, at Germania Singing and Sport Society, 543 S. Front St., Columbus, OH, from 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. To honor Dave, we ask all who attend to wear something orange, Dave's favorite color. There will also be a musical performance by Dave's favorite local musician, Chris Logsdon, starting at 1p.m.