Obituary of David Alan Fortin

David Alan Fortin, our beloved husband and father David passed away early Sunday morning, December 17, 2023. He is missed and mourned by his wife, Kimberlea Kaiser, his children Nathan Fortin (Lynn), their children Katy and Jojo, and his daughter Natalie Stewart (Doyle) and their children Scotty, Oleander and Rachael. David’s youngest son Gabriel passed away in 1996.

David is the last of his generation of the Fortin clan who lived in “Banks” (Bay City) on Smith Street, which included his brothers Dale, Earl, Michael, Gary and Chris, sisters Madonna Ciccone and Marilynn Sparks and his parents Elsie and Williard Fortin. David is survived by dozens of nieces, nephews and cousins.

David was forthright and passionate, and he protested injustice starting when he was in high school at Visitation in Bay City, where he earned his nickname, Tiger. His love of nature and the environment led him to work in water treatment and environmental jobs for most of his career. He loved animals and especially birds and added to his lifetime bird list in Guatemala, living with a family in a Spanish immersion program, in Saudi Arabia where he managed the largest fresh water pipeline in the world and while travelling and volunteering in Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. He has a rare bird sighting in Michigan and even inspired his wife Kimberlea to write a book about the birds of Michigan which she dedicated to him.

David was very proud of his French-Canadian ancestry and was delighted and surprised to see photos and pictures of other Fortins when he traveled to Val-Jalbert in Quebec. His family’s history has been traced back to the “filles du roy” or King’s Daughters who immigrated to New France (Canada) in the 1600’s.

A remembrance will be held in the Spring and David will be laid to rest in the Calvary Cemetery, next to Gabriel, and where nearly all the members of the Fortin family also rest in peace. He asked that people remember him by hugging their own family extra tight this holiday season and to give generously to the causes which mean the most to them. To sign online guestbook, visit www.cremationsocietymidmi.com  Arrangements made with the Cremation Society of Mid Michigan.

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