David Youngblood

David A. Youngblood was a jack of all trades, his wife Nancy McNally said.

He attended Waukesha County Technical College to get a degree in auto mechanics, but decided that wasn’t the career for him, she said.

He worked as a warehouse manager, over-the-road truck driver and then got into the tool and die industry, working for Triangle Tool in Milwaukee as a tool crib attendant.

He enjoyed woodworking, a hobby he taught himself.

“If he wanted to do something, he would learn how to do it,” his wife said. “He was a very self-sufficient person.

“He would fix or build things for everyone. Everyone has beautiful items from David.”

Mr. Youngblood built a stunning bar for his best friend out of an old fence, she said.

“He liked working with exotic woods,” she said. “Scroll sawing was what he liked the most. He wasn’t into furniture building.”

But while woodworking was his hobby, his passion was fishing, his wife said.

“First he bought a little fishing boat, then he bought a big fishing boat to go salmon fishing on Lake Michigan. Then he bought a camper,” she said. “Salmon fishing is something he liked, but not the way he liked pan fishing on inland lakes. He would bring them home and do his own fish fries.”

He even brought his love of fish inside, his wife said, noting he also liked aquariums.

Mr. Youngblood died Monday, Jan. 7, at his Belgium home of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He was 57.

A native of Milwaukee, Mr. Youngblood was born on Oct. 20, 1961, to Dale and Suzanne Shafer Youngblood.

After high school, he joined the U.S. Air Force, serving from 1979 to 1981.

On July 25, 1986, he married Nancy McNally in Milwaukee.

The couple moved to Belgium in 2003.

“Dave was just a nice guy,” his wife said. “He got along with pretty much anyone. He was family oriented, and he would do anything for a friend — or for anyone.”

She recalled one time when he saw a truck smoking in the Grafton park and ride lot. Mr. Youngblood stopped to see if he could help and, after learning the driver couldn’t get the truck towed until that night, he drove him to his house in Brown Deer.

“If you were in front of our house with a flat tire, he would help you change it,” his wife added. “He was just a really good guy.”

Mr. Youngblood was an avid Green Bay Packers fan, and he enjoyed traveling to Utah to visit his father.

Mr. Youngblood is survived by his wife Nancy McNally of Belgium; children Shawn Schwid and Kate Schwid, both of Milwaukee; and sisters Debbie Bublitz and Melissa Starling, both of Milwaukee.

He was preceded in death by his parents Dale and Suzanne and sister Paula Youngblood.

Private funeral services were held.

In accordance with Mr. Youngblood’s wishes, family and friends are invited to his house from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, to have a drink and celebrate his life, his wife said.