W. David Abernethy, age 96 of Burnsville, formerly of Tracy, MN passed away January 31, 2021. Dave graduated from Tracy High School and served in the U.S. Army during WWII including combat in both Europe and the Pacific. After the war, he returned to Tracy where he worked for Farmers and Merchants State Bank of Tracy and its successors for almost forty years. He married Betty Jean Johnson and was blessed with sixty nine years of marriage and two children, Nancy (David) Hippe and David Abernethy. After retiring, Betty and Dave moved to the Twin Cities to spend more time with their children and grandchildren, Noah and Kiyrie Abernethy.
In Tracy, Dave was active in his church and community including the board of Tracy Lutheran Church and the Tracy Public Schools. He was a 70-year member of the American Legion, a 20-year member of the Kiwanis and a 21-year member of the Tracy Volunteer Fire Department. He loved music, played the sousaphone in high school and sang in his high school choir and in church choirs both in Tracy and Burnsville. Dave also coordinated reunions of the 86th Division and the A Battery of the 331st Field Artillery Regiment who served in WWII.
Dave was preceded in death by his parents, David Arthur Abernethy and Louise Marie (nee Wischhof) Abernethy, his wife Betty (nee Johnson) Abernethy, his siblings and their spouses Eunice (Martin) Galstad, Eugene (JoAnn) Abernethy, James (Roberta) Abernethy, Raymond (Rosalie) Abernethy and Harry (Frieda) Abernethy.
He is survived by his children, son-in-law, grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Interment: Ft. Snelling National Cemetery. Celebration of Life: Summer of 2021. Memorials preferred to Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Burnsville, MN or Tracy Lutheran Church in Tracy, MN.