David Junior Hirschi, 84, passed away October 5, 2009 at his home in Salem Idaho of natural causes. David was born in Salem, Idaho, May 28, 1925 to David Hirschi Jr. and Hedwig Aldehoff Hirschi, the last of four children and the only boy in a family of girls. He was a big baby weighing 13 lbs. and twenty-two inches long. Although he was a big baby he was always the smallest boy in his class. He attended school in Kilgore, Spencer and attended his last year of high school in Blackfoot, where he stayed with his Uncle Abe James. It was during his last year in high school that Pearl Harbor was bombed.

He met his sweetheart of 60 years on a blind date. It was love at first sight. He married Virgene Berrett on June 26, 1946 in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple after a two year courtship.

David was drafted into the army in May of 1945, he took his training at Camp Roberts California and was in the Ninth Service Command which was a guard & escort company and he spent his time guarding army prisoners.

He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served as a Branch President, Counselor in the Elder's Quorum, Young Men President, High Priest Group Leader, 1st Counselor in the Bishopric and many other callings. He and Virgene officiated in the Idaho Falls LDS temple for seven years plus two more years after his wife was released for health reasons.

David and Virgene served a mission to the Dallas Fort Worth mission where they made many wonderful friends.

He worked for Ricks College for 24 years as a custodian. He worked at the Livestock Auction on Tuesdays for many years and was known for his ability to get hard tasks done in a most efficient way. He was a great horseman and in April of 2005 was inducted into the Eastern Idaho Horseman's Hall of Fame.

He was an avid outdoorsman, hunter and fisherman. He farmed and ranched in the Kilgore and Salem areas and he could repair most anything. He loved his family.

He is survived by his seven children; Marné (Clark) Tucker of Roosevelt, UT, JoLynn (Brian) Davis of Salem, ID, RaeAnn (Roger) Hall of Idaho Falls, ID, Michele, (Bryon) Smith of Logan, UT, Michael (Barbara) Hirschi, Bill (Denese) Hirschi of Salem and Cindy (Jeff) Nelson of Riverton, UT, as well as 27 grandchildren & 50 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, three sisters, a grandson, and one great grandson.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, October 10, at the Salem LDS Chapel. The family will receive friends Friday evening from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Flamm Funeral Home in Rexburg, and again at the church from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. prior to services. Interment will be in the Kilgore Cemetery.