David Frank Airaghi

David F. Airaghi, 72, passed away on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, at his home in Sheridan, WY after a brief but hard-fought battle with cancer, surrounded by his loving family.

David was born April 4, 1951, in St. Louis, MO, the youngest of 4 children to Caesar and Pauline (Pisoni) Airaghi.  He attended St. Ambrose school on “The Hill” in St. Louis until his family moved to Fulton, MO, where he graduated from high school in 1969.  He then enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served a tour in Vietnam with the 1st Force Reconnaissance from 1969 to 1970, where he was awarded a Bronze Star with V (Valor).  Completing his 4-year service with the Marines and separating as a Sgt E-5, he attended the University of Missouri, graduating with a degree in Civil Engineering. He worked as a mechanical engineer contractor at numerous nuclear power plants and Department of Energy sites around the country, retiring in 2016.

David married Marcia Acton in 1972 and they had 3 wonderful daughters, Tarrah, Tessa, and Staci. David and Marcia divorced in 2002, and in 2008 he married Donna Bridges in Ouray, CO.  David and Donna retired to Sheridan, WY in 2018, where they delighted in the beauty of the area and the people who live here. 

David never saw a dilemma that he couldn’t resolve, and he was a natural engineer at reasoning out a solution.  He could fix, build, and/or repair any problem presented to him even if he had no experience with that skill.  He was always quick to provide his talents and skills to friends and neighbors who needed help, and he was incredibly kind, generous, and clever.  People were naturally drawn to him by his quick wit, great sense of humor, and funny stories. He was a loving husband, dad, and granddad, improving the lives of everyone who knew him, and he will be greatly missed. The family is grateful for the kindness of the many friends of David who supported him and them through his final battle.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Michael Airaghi.  He is survived by his adoring wife Donna: lovely daughters Tarrah (Jimmy) Bieranowski of Evans, GA, Tessa (Brett) Dickey of Matthews, GA, Staci (Kenneth) McKie of N. Augusta, SC; 10 grandchildren Morgan, Jesse, and Kimmy Bieranowski, Amelia, Barrett, Emmett, Penelope and Felicity Dickey, and Ava and Kenley McKie; sister Patricia Kimbell of Fulton, MO, brother James (Elsie) Airaghi of Niceville, FL, and sister-in-law Joyce Airaghi.

 A celebration of David’s life will be held on Sat., Nov 4 at noon at The Barn In Big Horn with Fr. Kevin Jones officiating.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in his memory to the American Cancer Society, and we pray that the cure for all cancers will be discovered with the help of these memorials.  Online condolences may be made to www.sheridanfuneral.com. Arrangements are under the care of Sheridan Funeral Home.