David Anthony Bauchat
of Chelsea, Michigan, formerly of Pontiac, Lincoln Park, and Indian River, MI, died Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at Chelsea Retirement Community at the age of 100. He was born March 15, 1924, in Hamburg, Michigan (Ore Lake) to George Andre & Virginia C. (Small) Bauchat.
Dave’s childhood, as the youngest of six children, was one of wild, rambunctious, and occasionally dangerous adventures with his brothers, coupled with the heavy burden of growing up during the Great Depression. From a young age, he and his brothers were tasked with contributing to the family coffers in any manner they could, from collecting monthly rents from his parents’ apartment tenants in Pontiac, to shooting bullfrogs in nearby creeks and selling the legs to earn cash. Dave also worked at a local grocery store throughout his high school years and fondly recalled the delicious sausages the owners would save for him at the end of the workday. Every penny Dave earned was given directly to his mother to help the family stay afloat. During his senior year of high school, Dave and his good friend Ron got permission to leave high school for a couple of weeks so they could drive to New York City and explore. In telling of this adventure, Dave always pointed out that the highlight of the trip was when the two boys managed to sneak into a burlesque show (and then later got into trouble for sharing far too many details of that experience with their high school classmates!)