Charles David Bornheim

Charles David Bornheim, born January 4, 1956 in Fort Worth Texas, went to live with our Lord and Savior on February 15, 2021. He passed away at the age of 65 due to complications with Covid-19 and pneumonia.
Dave was born to Marianne Ortner Bornheim Paulsen and Charles Henry Bornheim in 1956 and was soon joined by his brother, Tom Bornheim in 1958. Tom grinned as he described fishing trips, playing as kids, and the brotherly mischief they got into. Dave was athletic and competitive - attributes that would follow him into adulthood. He was artistic and witty and often found with a large smile on his face.
Dave graduated from Brewer High School, Class of ‘74, a year early, in 1973. He loved participating in football and track. He was the first student to test the pilot program for accelerated graduation for the school. It may be noted he was dating the principal’s daughter and this perhaps was a ploy to send him to college early. Dave told that story with a sparkle in his crystal-blue eyes. He majored in Business at TCJC, University of Texas at Arlington, and Stephen F Austin, and was a member of Delta Tau Upsilon.
Dave loved a good adventure and sought after them. One time around the age of 18, he hitchhiked to Florida for the summer. He got a ride from a soldier, returning home, carrying a motorcycle in the bed of his truck and he and the man took turns driving the truck and riding the bike all the way to Florida. He fished, cut bait, and picked tomatoes during the summer while he enjoyed Florida, and when summer was over, he made his way home to Fort Worth.
Dave entered the car business and as luck would have it, he met Sherilyn, who was soon to be his wife. He continued to throw away her car tags as they came into the dealership so he could work up the nerve to ask her out each time she called to ask about her tags. When he finally did find the courage, they went on 13 dates in 9 days before he asked her to marry him. They were married months later on January 22, 1983. They had just celebrated their 38th anniversary in January this year.
Dave and Sherilyn welcomed two daughters, Jessica and Amy, in 1983 and 1985 respectively. Amy Nicole Bornheim passed away at the age of 11 months from Biliary Atresia in 1986.
Always a hard worker and ever the provider, Dave worked in the car business for nearly 20 years as a salesman and later a finance manager, and would later write an e-book to help others buy a car with confidence as he was always helping family and friends with this endeavor. When Dave decided he wanted a change of pace and more family friendly hours, he became an account manager and Commercial Insulation Contractor. He developed the system responsible for multi-million dollar projects which is still used by major builders in the area. After hurricanes hit the gulf, Dave traveled out as a disaster relief insurance adjuster and often spoke about why he liked the job. He said he did it because he felt like he was helping people get their lives back together after such a tragedy. It made him feel good to help others. This would be a theme throughout Dave’s life.
Dave helped those in need over and over without expectation, without boast. Dave once saw a burning car on the side of the road and immediately jumped out and pulled someone out saving their life. He opened his home to those who needed it for as long as they needed it, and would even pull over to save turtles trying to cross major roads - several of them have taken up residency in his backyard.
It gave Dave great pride to be a part of his community. He and Sherilyn co-hosted a Halloween carnival and 4th of July Parade and Carnival with their neighbor Pat Jermyn for 20 years. Each year both events grew and grew. Families from all over would come to play games and walk the cake walk that Dave ran from his drive-way on Halloween. They would deck out bikes and scooters in red, white, and blue for the Annual Independence Parade and Dave could be spotted beaming from the firetruck in the lead. He trained with the Richland Hills Police Department becoming a Community Citizen Patrol Academy Graduate. He worked with the Explorers, the program for the RHPD which trained youths in practical and tactical police procedures and traveled doing community service and competing against other Explorer programs nationally. Dave was committed to others and was always delighted to be of service.
As a husband, Dave showed love frequently and was one for big gestures. For his and Sherilyn’s 10th anniversary, he sent her on several month’s worth of scavenger hunts led by letters he would leave for her. These letters directed her to go or buy or meet someone (never him). He included family members and friends, and by the end of the scavenger hunt, he had completely prepared her for a trip- sent her shopping, sent her to be pampered in preparation for the surprise flight, and even up to the time they arrived at the airport, didn’t let it spill that he was taking her to Las Vegas to see her long-time friend. He planned activities and events for their time there as well. He was a magician at creating special memories. He took Sherilyn to Disney World for her 50th birthday, as well as multiple trips to Jamaica, Hawaii, and Florida. Dave and Sherilyn loved each other unconditionally and truly enjoyed each other.
As a father, Dave was doting and always supportive. He was a teacher and a guide and loved to show Jessica how to do anything and everything he could. He coached her softball teams, came to all of her shows, and quizzed her constantly for tests and studies. They went to Daddy Daughter Dances, shopping sprees where Dave would spoil her with new clothes, and would spend hours outside playing catch and talking about life lessons and gleaning wisdom until it was too dark to see. He would sit in the yard watering it beyond need while Jessica showed him all of her bike riding skills and tricks, never stopping her even when she was on her third or fourth pass of the same skill. Dave taught Jess how to cook, fish (and even skin the fish), golf (or at least caddy), play softball, drive, play poker, and how to put together a well-matched outfit. If he was doing something, he showed her how. Dave would always tell Sherilyn and Jessica to “Remember the most important thing!” Which was that he loved them. He said he loved them all the time, and there was never a question. He did with his whole heart.
As a PaPa, Dave introduced his grandsons to fishing, Tom and Jerry, and tickle-time with “The Claw!” He took them swimming, painted, baked, and attended all of their soccer games and school events. He loved sleepovers, taking the boys for donuts in Sundance Square, and surprising them with ice cream. He adored his boys and spent time teaching them to play dice, reading to them, and watching them draw and create things. He constantly commented on how smart and creative they are and was extremely proud of them.
Dave loved a good cigar and time well spent playing cards or dice, or company with family and friends. On a nice night, he could be found sipping on Crown or a glass of Port Wine. A good steak, chocolate cake, or anything made by his grandsons were his favorite treats. He was the champion of making Thanksgiving and Christmas ham and green beans. He had the most beautiful and efficient penmanship, and was an artist who sketched beautiful images of lions and tigers and loved to paint. He frequented Pop’s Safari Room in Fort Worth, and liked visiting the Scat Lounge when Ricky was in. He was a listener of The Eagles, Little Feet, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Dire Straits, Leon Redbone, The Allman Brothers, ZZ Top, Lyle Lovett, and James Taylor. He was a windows down music up kind of guy who loved to host and have fun. He spoiled his pup Sissy plain rotten and thought she was just the smartest little thing that ever ruffed. He was an avid golfer, hunter, and fisherman. If he had the time and a sunny day was coming, you could bet he was readying his clubs and setting up a tee time. He liked to play with his friends and family, and he also liked to meet new people joining up with people at the course. He was an accomplished storyteller and was always quick with a witty line or observation. You could find him taking in a Tom Clancy book, watching a western, or the Rangers playing ball. He enjoyed taking road trips in his Ford Excursion, and often spoke of his travels, especially his sailing adventure to Catalina. Dave enjoyed a tropical climate with a hammock and a nice cold drink in a coconut! Ever the shopper, he was an extremely sharp dresser, kept a wonderfully manicured mustache nearly all his life, and always smelled of nice cologne and mint. He was just an absolutely exemplary human.
Dave was confident in his relationship with Jesus and spoke of Heaven and the hope he had in eternity with God. His family is at peace knowing Dave has returned home and joins those who have passed before him: Amy Nicole Bornheim, Marianne Ortner Bornheim Paulsen, Charles Henry Bornheim, Herb Paulsen, Alisha and Bill Clark, Gordon and Judy Bowden, Jan Cowan, and his dear friend Alan Curlee.
He is survived by his wife, Sherilyn Bornheim, daughter and son-in-love, Jessica and Nicholas Farish, grandsons Brady and Bailey Farish, brother Tom Bornheim, stepsister Valerie Hinkel and Clark, brothers and sisters-in-law, and many nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends.

The service will be live streamed for those who cannot be in attendance.