David Erik Gottsman

The world became an infinitely more joyful place on July 3, 1985, when David Erik Gottsman was born in Brooksville, Florida, to Eddie and Drema Gottsman. The youngest of four, David had an incredibly tight-knit relationship with his siblings, Billy, Steven, and Elissa.

David was baptized and confirmed at Christ Lutheran Church in Brooksville, and throughout his life, he took great pride in being a member of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

In his early years, David attended Hernando Christian Academy. He went to high school at Hernando High School, where he played golf and tennis, and he graduated in 2003.

After graduating high school, David enrolled at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Florida, and he ultimately earned a business degree from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. He knew the value of hard work and spent his career climbing the ranks in the transportation industry. David was highly respected for his integrity and work ethic, but throughout his life, relationships were ultimately what meant the most to him.

One of his favorite roles in life was uncle and godparent. He loved his nieces and nephews, Carliana, Angelina, Oliver, Elijah, Finn, Jace, Silas, and Gabriel, with every ounce of his being. He showed up for them. He laughed with them. He made them all feel important.

After praying for the right person for many years, David finally met love of his life and his best friend, Karissa, in 2018. The two instantly bonded over their LCMS faith, a love of pop punk music and concerts, and a shared sense of adventure. In 2021, the two wed and adopted their beloved tiny dog, Piper. David loved and adored Karissa fiercely. You could see it in the way he looked at her. Steady. Protective. Proud.

A true Florida man, David lived for the outdoors and exploring God’s creation, with an unrivaled love for fishing. It was where his soul slowed down. If he could be on the water with a rod in his hand and someone he loved beside him, that was enough. It wasn’t about the catch. It was about the quiet, the stories, the being together. (Though he never missed an opportunity to mention he was featured on the cover of Kayak Angler magazine.)

Although David loved being an angler in the truest sense of the word, he found even greater joy and fulfillment in being a fisher of men. His enduring faith was evident in the way he lived his life, the way he treated others, and the intention he poured into every relationship he built.

David wasn’t just fun to be around. He made you feel like you mattered. He had a way of pulling you in, like you’d been chosen. You’d leave a conversation with him feeling lighter. When he was with you, he was fully with you. Whether you knew him for a minute or decades, he made you feel like a lifelong friend.

His radiant smile and his infectious laugh touched countless lives and will never be forgotten. He truly lit up every room he walked into and filled every space with joy. Even in the crushing grief of his loss, that joy still echoes.

David was a man of faith who fiercely loved his Lord and Savior. While we miss him here on earth, we find comfort knowing he is home, safe and sound, made whole by our Maker. David lived his life in a way that exemplified faith and love, and that light won’t fade in his absence. How blessed all of us were to have known David! He certainly left the world a better place than he found it.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”