David "Dave" Elmer Wannemacher

Dave “Trophy” Wannemacher passed away at his home in Durham, North Carolina on November 18, 2024. He lived these last two years with humor, hope, and a sense that pancreatic cancer would not have the last word. 

Dave was born in Buffalo, New York on December 29, 1952, to Patricia and Elmer Wannemacher. He attended Catholic schools in Buffalo and was proud of his perfect attendance in high school. After graduation, Dave followed in his father’s footsteps and enlisted in the Navy. He served during the Vietnam War from 1970 to 1974, stationed first in Taiwan and then aboard the USS Ranger, an aircraft carrier operating in the seas around Vietnam. 

Upon returning home, Dave enrolled at Buffalo State University through the GI Bill, graduating in December 1978 with a degree in Mass Communications. This is where his love for the English language grew; later he took pleasure in correcting stepdaughters Morgan and Kelsey’s school papers as well as everyone’s grammar. 

 He was immediately offered a position as a journalist in Arkansas and left Buffalo in January of 1979 saying, “I’ve shoveled my last driveway.” Yet his ties to and his love for Buffalo remained strong and he took pride in calling Buffalo his home. Dave worked for the Arkansas Gazette and the Arkansas Democrat reporting on banking and finance. In 1986 he was awarded a scholarship to the Herbert J. Davenport Fellowship Program in Business and Economics Reporting from The School of Journalism at the University of Missouri-Columbia. 

 While in Little Rock he played keyboard for a band named “Nun of the Above” and he swore to his family that he was allowed to sing every now and then. 

 Dave wrapped up his journalism career and moved to Florida where he doubled down on his golf game and bought a boat. He loved having his family visit from Buffalo. There has never been a dull moment during a Wannemacher gathering, then or now. 

 Dave met his wife Meg in 2006 at a bar of questionable repute and although the story is legendary it will not be shared here. They were married in 2008 in a small ceremony performed by Meg’s mother and Dave immediately embraced his role as “bonus dad” to Morgan and Kelsey. He found new happiness in having this kind of family and his Dave-isms quickly rubbed off on them. His joy expanded with the addition of grandchildren and he was forever truly thankful. 

 Dave pitched baseball into his 40s. He was a life-long baseball fan and his absolute favorite time of year was during the College World Series. His other passion was golf and in retirement, he worked part-time for CBS Sports on the PGA tour. His CBS family dubbed him “Trophy” and the name stuck. He is Trophy to his grandchildren, friends, and family. 

 Trophy is survived by his wife Meg, his brother Jim Wannemacher (Pat), sisters Gail Skoney (Dennis), and Carol Wannemacher (Al Kegler), stepdaughters Morgan Gramann (Andrew) and Kelsey Wittman (Benny Kessman), and grandchildren Brighton, Surrey and Berkeley Gramann. Trophy also leaves behind nieces and nephews Michelle Wannemacher, Jamie Krieger (Matt), Kara Partsch (James), Lauren Skoney (Matt Franklin), Grey Kegler, and Rhonan Kegler, as well as in-laws Jill Gianola (Dan Fleisch), Todd Isaacson (Janet), Kurt Isaacson (Lynn), and Peter Isaacson (Stacey Geis). 

 A memorial service will be held in the chapel at the Hall-Wynne Funeral Service in Durham, North Carolina on December 4, 2024, at 1:00 pm, followed by a reception at Hope Valley Country Club. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the Dave Wannemacher Memorial at South Durham Little League.