David Allen Meggers, 69, of Carbondale, passed away on Wednesday, January 17, 2024 at a Topeka hospital.
He was born May 13, 1954, in Iowa City, Iowa, the son of Donald Franklin and June Louise (Bargenquest) Meggers. He graduated from Lincoln High School in Lincoln, Nebraska. He received his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, in 1977 and his Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Kansas State University in 1997. He was a registered Professional Engineer in the states of Nebraska and Kansas.
Dave was employed by Santa Fe Railroad Maintenance of Way and Engineering Departments in Texas and Kansas for 10 years, and 33 years with the Kansas Department of Transportation. He began work with KDOT in the Local Projects department in 1989, then worked in Bridge Inspection, then with the Bureau of Research for many years as the Research Development Engineer, specializing in nondestructive testing, and hybrid polymer concrete materials testing. Dave remained in Research being promoted to Assistant Chief, and then Chief, of the Bureau of Research, from where he retired in 2022. Dave was an active member and past chairman of the National Transportation Product Evaluation Program (NTPEP) for plastic pipe, as well as serving in various roles for AHD40 Polymer Concrete, Adhesives and Sealers Committee and AHD45 Corrosion Committees, both with the Transportation Research Board, a branch of the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering & Medicine.
He was an active volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America, Jayhawk Area Council, serving as an Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop: 3 for almost a decade, and then later serving in the roles of Course Director and Program Director for the councils' National Youth Leadership Training course, hosted at Falley Scout Reservation each spring. Dave was an avid promoter of NYLT and helped build the program and establish it as one of most consistent and appreciated courses in the central region.
Dave was a member of the Santa Fe Muzzleloaders black powder club near Carbondale, and although he was left-handed, got a lucky bullseye every now and again. He did OK with throwing the 'hawk too. He was a volunteer of the Combat Air Museum helping to troubleshoot corrosion and restoration problems on the CH-47 Chinook helicopters, and for his service was made an honorary "Hooker" in 2022.
David married Kathi Joy Williams in 1978. They later divorced. He married Li Yu in 1996. She survives in Carbondale. Other survivors include Douglas (Siobhan Kenny) Meggers of Amarillo, TX, Daniel (Amber) Meggers of Lubbock, TX and Alex Wu of Cincinnati, OH; five grandchildren, Katie, William, Joseph, Emma, and Faith; and his close friend like a brother, Lyle Staley of Topeka. Other close friends include Ron Peterson, of Nebraska, Dan Wadley, of Topeka, and Larry "Doc" Schroeder, of Topeka.
Dave loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He was an avid Nebraska Cornhusker fan and Kansas City Chiefs fan. He enjoyed playing racquetball and was known by his temperament as "Yosemite Sam'' on the court. He greatly enjoyed his hometown brewery, the Blind Tiger, and made countless good friends there while experiencing the milestones of life around good people.
A Celebration of David's Life will be held on Saturday, July 13, 2024 from 3:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Reynolds Lodge at Lake Shawnee, 3315 SE Tinman Circle, Topeka, Kansas 66605.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Boy Scouts of America, NYLT Scholarship fund, Topeka KS.
Dove Southeast Chapel, 2843 SE Minnesota Ave. is assisting the family.
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