On the evening of Sept. 8, 2014, David Verbarg, of Burbank, Wash., passed away peacefully at the age of 77, after a five year struggle with Alzheimer’s. David was being visited and comforted by family members at Legacy Village in Layton, Utah at the time of his passing.

David was born in 1936 in Yugoslavia, the child of David and Eliza Schimpf. At the age of 14, after the death of his Yugoslavian parents, he and his younger brother and sister were adopted by Americans, Edward and Beatrice Verbarg of Minneapolis, and in 1949 they moved to the States, where he learned English and became a U.S. citizen.

After graduating from high school, David went on to St. Olaf College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in education. In 1960 he moved to Sisseton, S.D., where he was hired to teach high school history. There he met Beverly Parker and in 1963 they married. Soon after, he earned a master’s in education from University of Northern Colorado.

In 1968, David and Beverly moved to Pasco, Wash., where he accepted a high school teaching position in the Pasco School District. There he spent the remainder of his teaching career sharing his passion for history with thousands of students over the course of 35 years. He retired in 2003.

Those who knew David appreciated his kindness, sense of humor, and ability to listen. He supported his family, friends, and students unequivocally, and he will always be remembered for the positive impact that he made on so many people. Although he will be deeply missed, he leaves us with an immeasurable appreciation for everything he did for us.

David is preceded in death by his parents, David and Eliza Schimpf and Edward and Beatrice Verbarg. He leaves behind his wife, Beverly, of 51 years; daughter, Bethany Pierce and her husband Kevin; son, Jason Verbarg and his wife Laura; his sister, Kathy Jacoby and her husband Bob; brother, Mike Verbarg; four grandchildren, Corey Adorin, Kayla Verbarg, and Hannah and Abby Pierce; great-granddaughter, Charlotte; and numerous nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or your local PBS station.