Between every two pine trees there is a door leading to a new way of life.

-John Muir

David began his walk among the pines in heaven on the afternoon of August 26, 2025. He was born on January 31, 1954, to loving parents David M. Gratner and Veune McShirley Gratner, in Rensselaer, Indiana. His early childhood years were in Crown Point. David’s family moved to New Castle in 1966 to begin a 48 year family owned KFC restaurant, in addition to two other restaurant locations.

Visiting his grandparents farm, he began a lifelong love of history, often looking for arrowheads for hours at a time. After graduating from New Castle High School, he went to Indiana University, majoring in anthropology and archeology. One summer he spent eight weeks studying in Italy and developed lifelong friendships with other students.

David loved studying so many subjects including music, travel, science, health, politics, gourmet cooking and nature, especially trees. He enjoyed his own extensive library on so many subjects. Old growth trees were very dear, and he would even measure them to determine their age. He loved visiting Stout Woods to savor the quiet among many old friends.

He loved being involved in the community, whether it was serving customers until 2014 when he retired from the restaurant business, serving on the RDC, the library board, the Healthy Communities board, and the Community Foundation grants committee.

His best friend introduced

him to Marsha in 1983. In 1984, they chose to have their wedding outside at the James Whitcomb Riley home. He arranged to have members of the Indianapolis Symphony perform at the wedding. He and Marsha enjoyed traveling and always had to stop at bookstores to find new treasures to read.

On one of his trips, he announced that he signed he and Marsha up to make a telescope at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago. He loved setting up his telescopes in the front yard at night to study the stars and galaxies until the many trees he planted over the years made that a little more challenging.

Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife of 42 years, Marsha Gratner; Kaitlin Marsh and family; special stepmother, Carolyn Bogue; Hannah Riggs and family; Susan (Bill) Stowell; cousin and dear friend, Vicki McShirley and family; nephew, Ryan Hasan; Carol (Alan) Hurley and family; Karen Stanley and family; John (Cindy) Edmundson and family; Shelly Leffel and family; J.V. (Nonamee) McShirley and family; Randy (Gret) Wake and family; and Darrell Wake and family.

David was preceded in death by his parents.

Services will be held on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at the Sulphur Springs Christian Church at 3:00p.m., with Pastor CJ Buskirk officiating. Visitation will be from 12:00p.m. to the time of the service on Saturday. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the David and Marsha Gratner Named Fund with the Henry Community Foundation or to the Red-Tail Land Conservancy. Also, consider planting a native bush or tree in David’s memory. Arrangements have been entrusted to Hinsey Brown Funeral Service in New Castle. You may express condolences or share a memory of David at www.hinsey-brown.com.