David Jon Wainer

August 4, 2023, a morning after watching another Cubs win at Wrigley, David opens up about life experiences and stories which have led him from one thing to the next, “like stepping stones”. He’s become a stand-up friend, brother, son, husband, and Dad. All this while living a life with faith, purpose, care for others, and throwing in some humor when necessary. I’d like to personally thank him for his friendship and for doing this interview. He agreed to do it knowing it would put him in the spotlight, which he doesn’t like. But, he wants to support my business idea preserving people’s life stories.

David's earliest (and only) recorded car accident

Dona, Glenn, Anne, David (Age 3), and Lisa.

“Going hunting.” Age 4.

1st grade.

4th grade. Ready for Tulip time with sister, Lisa and their cat, Sugarfoot.

Wiffleball in the street with Dad, Glenn. Age 6.

Little league. Age 12.

Running track at Holland High. Age 13.

Holland Dutch. Age 14.

“Burn the shorts”, a peace protest by a few of the church youth choir boys. Cue up minute 6:10 of the interview for a few fun stories during David’s middle school years.

Holland High cross country, Pictured with sister, Anne. Age 15.

Senior picture. Age 17.

As described in the interview at minute 22:50, David suffered broken ribs and a punctured lung that would require sticking a sharp tube in his side after falling from this swing.

Hospital visit to take care of a punctured lung and broken ribs from minute 22:50 of the interview.

Manistee national forest along-side Lake Michigan where David and Dan were blown off the dune in the crazy midnight storm. Tune in to minute 141:55 of the interview to hear the story.

A snowball fight breaks out and a car-accident ensues when David and friend, Benn, stop through Fort Collins, CO during their road trip around the U.S. See minute 38:45 of the interview.

David, pictured with Chinese students in Chengdu, China, 2000. It’s pretty cool to think about all the people he has influenced through teaching. Both in Asia and America.

David, pictured with Chinese students, 2001.

David, in Hainan, China, attempting to sell a coconut he found. The women were obviously a bit shocked he was speaking Chinese and also charging way below asking price.

Photo inside the panda reserve in Chendgu, China where David leaped in over a concrete ravine to say hello. The story unfolds in minute 103:41 of the interview.

2002.. Benn, Jeremy, Greg, David, Mike and Dan (and others) came to support David after his Dad, Glenn, died at the early age of 51. Cue up minute 121:38 of the interview to hear the story.

Early 2004 dating scene in Chengdu, China. David and Fan-Fan.

Just 2 of them when they got hitched, but now there’s 2 more.

Fan-Fan, Naia, David, and Enna Wainer. 2009.

A visit to some Costa Rican waterfalls and zip-lines. 2007.

The zip-lines in Costa Rica where David experienced a “big-world, small-world” moment, as described in minute 113:25 of the interview.

Viviendo la pura vida. Costa Rica - 2006.

Winter hiking, Saugatuck dunes, Michigan. 2007

David’s love for rivers and canyons runs deep and wide. Big Horn Mountains, 2019.

Canyon hiking. Badlands, South Dakota, 2019.

Hiking Cascade peaks near Snoqualmie, Washington, 2017.

Lookout tower hike in the Big Hole Mountains was a great one until Dave accidentally sprayed me in the face with bear spray. True story.. Wyoming, 2019

Pictured lower right, David, hiking steep canyons in the Cascade mountains, 2018.

Plenty of stories from all the Cubs games. Listen to minute 154:25 of the interview for Wrigley adventures. Pictured in left-field bleachers. Graham, David, Dan, Kyle. Summer 2019.

Wrigleyville, 2019.

David taking in the views of the North Cascade Mountains, 2018.

Pre-sunrise, Cascade Mountains, 2017.

Great Lakes greatest ultimate tournament team David played with during Michigan state invitational. 2022.

Wainer, party of 4, enjoying the canyons in AZ. 2022.

Canyoneering in AZ. 2022.

2022 family trip to Toccoa Falls, where David attended University and graduated Cum Laude.