David Kent Simpson

Memorial services for Dr. David K. Simpson, age 70, of Albert Lea will be held at 11:00a.m., Saturday, April 9, 2011 at First Presbyterian Church.  The Rev. Dwight Netzer will officiate.  Friends may greet the family one hour prior to the service.  Interment will be at Graceland Cemetery with military honors accorded by area veteran’s organizations.  

David died at his home on Saturday, February 26, 2011.

David Kent Simpson was born in Winona on February 19, 1941, the son of Gerald and Helen (Nussloch) Simpson.  He grew up in Marshall and graduated from Marshall High School in 1959.  He attended Macalester College in St. Paul and Illinois College of Optometry, Chicago.  On July 20, 1963, he was united in marriage with Susan M. Korpela in Winona.  After David graduated from optometry school in 1965, the couple settled in Albert Lea where David became a partner in the Albert Lea Optometric Clinic. He was then drafted into the U.S. Army, only the 2^nd optometrist from MN to be commissioned and served as a Captain in Fort Campbell, KY from 1967-1969.  The couple returned to Albert Lea and David continued in private practice until 1990, joined the Albert Lea Regional Medical Group from 1990-1995 and finally retired with the Mayo Health System in 2004.  He was extremely proud of his 40 year optometric career serving Albert Lea and the surrounding communities. Following the death of Susan in 1997, David was united in marriage with Ruth (Ubl) McCrea in New Ulm on June 15, 2002 and they continued to reside in Albert Lea while enjoying retirement.  David was a member of the First Presbyterian Church where he served as an elder.  He was a member of the American and Minnesota Optometric Associations, American Legion, Elks Club and Lion’s Club.  On Jan. 27, 2011, he was awarded the Lion’s Club International Foundation’s highest honor, the Melvin T. Jones Award, which recognized his 45 years of commitment to humanitarian service and positive influence on his community.  David loved reading, photography, fishing, bowling, traveling and cruises.

He is survived by his wife, Ruth Simpson of Albert Lea; daughter Debra Simpson and her husband Tim Visage of Broomfield, CO; daughter Laura (Simpson) Olson and grandson Nicholas of Charlotte, NC ; brother Thomas Simpson and his wife Wynne and niece Brenna Hindman of Boulder, CO and brother Jon Simpson of Marshall, MN; cousin Mary (Nussloch) Nelson and her husband Ron of Stillwater, MN; cousin Betsy (Nussloch) Senrick and her husband Larry of Shoreview, MN and cousin Richard Halstead-Nussloch and his wife Del of Roswell, GA.  He is also survived by Ruth’s children and grandchildren: daughter Jyneal McCrea and her husband Mark Hofmann and grandchildren Quinn and Ramsey of New Ulm, MN; daughter Bobbi McCrea and her fiancé Charlie Zangl and granddaughters Abby and Savannah of New Ulm, MN; daughter Jennie (McCrea) Backstrom and her husband Jan and grandchildren Lillian and Stuart of Turlock, CA and son Jason McCrea and his wife Kate Michmerhuizen and grandsons Gabe, Finn and Rowan of Boston, MA; brothers-in-law, Jerry and his wife Maggie Ubl of Columbia, MO and Joe and his wife Katie Ubl of Albert Lea.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father and wife, Susan.

Memorial contributions may go to Crossroads Hospice, Albert Lea Lions Club, First Presbyterian Church or donor’s choice.