David Shogren Obituary

Shogren, David K.
Dewitt, Michigan
David Kirk Shogren passed away June 29, 2025 at the age of 91. He was born on June 3, 1934 in Oak Park, Illinois and raised in Glen Elyn, Illinois by his parents Cyril and Helen Shogren. After graduating Glenbard High School in 1952, he moved to Fort Myers Beach, Florida with his parents and subsequently enrolled at the University of Miami. While attending university David studied mechanical engineering and was in the army reserves and ROTC. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1956 and was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. army. David was stationed at Fort Benning, GA with the US Army Ordnance School where he worked in the maintenance corp. After an honorable discharge from active duty, David took a job at the naval shipyard in Norfolk Virgina to pursue his interest in naval architecture. He continued to serve with the army reserves until 1965.
David shifted his career to optics and took a job with Ferson Optics in Biloxi, Mississippi. While living on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, David met and married Virginia, a fellow Midwesterner, on June 17, 1962. They had three children together. They were married for 56 years until Virginia's death in June 2018.
David's interest in optics led him and his family to Xerox in Webster, New York. During his tenure with Xerox, David earned his Professional Engineering (PE) license and was awarded numerous patents for his pioneering work on photocopier optics systems. He was a respected senior engineer and mentor to many junior engineers. Following his career at Xerox, David worked for several years as an engineering consultant.
A lifelong sailor, David sailed Lake Michigan early in his life and the Florida coast throughout college while crewing on a racing sailboat to the Bahamas and Cuba. Vacations featured sailing excursion to Florida, British Virgin Islands, Maine, Puget Sound in the Pacific Northwest. In retirement, David and Virginia sailed the Great Lakes from Ontario to Superior, often hosting family and friends onboard. He was an active member of the Great Lakes Cruising Club. He particularly enjoyed sailing Lake Huron and the Straits of Mackinac. David was an avid do-it-yourself person all his life. The consummate engineer, he constructed enhancements for his boats, built his own garage, greenhouse, and bay windows, and made tables for his boats and home. He enjoyed growing his own fruits and vegetables and picking wild blueberries, especially when sailing in the North Channel.
Later in life, David and Virginia moved to DeWitt, Michigan to be closer to their children and grandchildren and to continue to sail the Great Lakes. David is survived by his children Daniel, Sara and Kenneth, their spouses Jennifer, Paul and Nicole and his three grandchildren Tristan, Ian and Kyra. He was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia, his brother Robert and his sister Carol.
A service will be held on Sunday, July 20, 2025, 1 PM, at McGeehan Funeral Home, Keck-Coleman Chapel, 1500 Waterford Pkwy, St. Johns. Friends may visit the funeral home on Sunday from 12 PM until the time of the service.
For further information, phone McGeehan Funeral Home at 989-224-4422.