David Neil Wilcken
David Neil Wilcken was born 4/20/1956 in Burley, Idaho to Virginia Mae Anderson & Walter Baker. Later, Dave was adopted by Virginia’s second husband, Guy Lindsey Wilcken. Dave grew up in and around Pocatello Idaho.
Dave was raised in a musical family with two brothers and one sister. The kids learned the accordion, ukulele, and mandolin early in life. Dave also taught himself the drums, piano, & guitar. In his teens and twenties, he played in several successful bands which traveled across Idaho.
A true salesman from a young age, he loved to buy, sell and trade things. He began working at a local car dealership while still in high school. He would later sell stereos, condos, RV’s and expensive high-end motorhomes. Dave also sold timeshares for a time while living on the island of Barbados.
Dave had a love of hot rods and speed boats. He bought, sold and owned more Corvettes and other muscle cars than most anyone else you’d ever meet. He had his own parasail that he had fun with out on Lake Palisades reservoir near Jackson Hole, WY.
Dave loved his animals throughout his life, his family raised dogs and he used to sleep in the doghouse with his favorite “Muffett” spaniel. More recently we rescued Parrots & bunny rabbits. He liked to call our backyard the “Wild Wickie Wabbit Ranch!” The bun buns would come up to him, stand on their back feet & paw at him until he gave them a treat. He got such a kick out of watching them jumping around and doing “binkies”!
Dave was kind friendly, and easy-going. He was able to connect with anyone. A talented videographer, Dave spent years traveling the world, producing videos for “The Travel Channel” on TV for Walt Disney Productions. He shared stories of visiting exotic places and being treated “like royalty” at exclusive destinations. He was also a skilled scuba diver and guided others on trips, to dream destinations around the world. One of his fav., was the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
Dave met “S.A.M.” Sue Ann Marman at a Yard sale that he was having in 2009. They were excited to find out that they were both Padi Certified Scuba divers which is rare in Idaho! They soon found out how much each of them loved being around any kind of water rivers, lakes or oceans. They got married on Dave’s favorite holiday 7/4/2013. He loved fireworks until the end, He and the neighbors always put on beautiful, generous displays, whether it was New Year’s Eve, the 4th of July, or any excuse they could come up with to act like pyromaniacs!
Dave had a deep & strong singing voice, and he loved to write his own music. He wrote a song for his wife, Sue Ann, S.A.M., and often enlisted the help of their Umbrella Cockatoo parrot “Jazzy”, singing and dancing along in their living room performances.
Dave and “S.A.M.” loved to swing dance together in public and private, either in the backyard or dining room. Dave had good rhythm and a precise ear for music.
A loyal friend to many, in his later years, Dave especially enjoyed spending time with friends from his neighborhood. A very generous host and skilled in the kitchen, he enjoyed cooking delicious meals in his backyard deluxe “man kitchen”. Guests were always in for a special treat with Dave as their chef!
Family and friends often joined Dave in the outdoors, fishing, camping, hunting, four-wheeling, and snowmobiling. From tent camping to luxurious motor coach travel, Dave loved it all. In 2021, he and S.A.M., along with friends, attended the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally & Races, where he achieved a dream, of riding his Harley up to Mt. Rushmore.
Dave is survived by his wife, Sue Ann Marman, his brother, Stuart Guy Wilcken & wife Shanna of Nampa Idaho, two children, and a sister.
He belonged to the Revive Christian non-denominational Church off Dawn Ln & Fairview. He belonged to the over 50s monthly group and enjoyed that. He was also helping with the missionary projects there. We will have a Celebration of Life in the spring 2023 probably around Memorial Day weekend. Ask Pastor Dusty Taylor for more info.
Arrangements are under the direction of Bowman Funeral Parlor of Garden City.