David Allen Salvaggio

After battling a lifelong illness, God called David Allen Salvaggio home on the eve of November 22, 2023.

David was born September 14, 1958, and grew up in Portage, Michigan where he graduated from Portage Central High School in June of 1976. He then joined the Marines and became a Military Police Officer and a Lance Corporal E-3 during his service in Hawaii.

After his service in the Marines, David became a police officer working for Gobles Police Department, Kalamazoo Police Department, and Benton Township Police Department, serving from 1982 through 1991. He also became a volunteer Firefighter and First Responder for Portage Fire Department and South Haven Area Emergency Services through 2005. During those years, David earned an Associates Degree in Applied Science from Kalamazoo Valley Community College in May of 1983 and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice at Western Michigan University in April of 2002. David loved the outdoors and enjoyed hunting and fly fishing, enjoyed various wood carving projects, and spending time working on leatherwork and blacksmithing projects as well. He was a member of the Michigan Blacksmith Association, a lifetime member of the NRA and served as an Emergency Services Rescue Diver.

David is preceded in death by his grandparents Jess and Rose (Taylor) Tucker, and John and Elizabeth (Cilluffo) Salvaggio, his parents John and Peggy (Tucker) Salvaggio and his sister Brenda Salvaggio.

David is survived by his wife of 41 years Carol (Dailey) Salvaggio, his daughters Amanda Salvaggio and Rebecca Shull, his granddaughters Kyra and Lily Shull, his brother and wife Michael and Tammy (Munson) Salvaggio, his nephews Sean Salvaggio, Alex Midgett, Charles Dailey IV, Nick Dailey, and his nieces Nita Dailey, Anna Dailey, Chris Green, and Amy (Rawlings) Johnston.

Private services were held by the family at Langeland Family Funeral Home on Centre Ave in Portage, MI. Interment took place at Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta, MI on November 29, 2023, at 2:00 pm with full military honors. Three of the five departments David served at during his public service career were in attendance to honor him as well: South Haven Area Emergency Services, Van Buren County Sheriff representing the Gobles Police Department and the Portage Fire Department. Your thoughts and prayers for the family are appreciated.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in honor of David to The Primal Outfitters Inc. Please visit David’s personalized webpage to share condolences and memories with his family at https://www.Langelands.com