David was born in Hallettsville to Herbert and Georgie Etzler on October 4, 1965. He attended Sacred Heart School from first to eighth grade and graduated from Hallettsville High School in 1984. David studied Radio Communications and was first in his class when he graduated from Victoria College. He married Lori Beth Bernsen Etzler on August 8, 2002 in Gonzales. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hallettsville.

David worked as a paging technician for Awesome Paging in Victoria. David took care of paging terminals and towers all over Texas. When not at work, David loved outdoors where he loved hunting with his son, and welding or building many projects. He was an excellent shot with a rifle and a bow, and especially liked bow hunting. Well-known for his quick wit and his Scooby Doo impression, David also enjoyed playing pool and loved going fishing with his wife and son.

David is survived by his parents, Herbert and Georgie Etzler; his wife, Lori Beth Etzler; his son Kyle Jacob Etzler of Hallettsville; sisters and brothers-in-law Barbara and Raymond Patek of Katy, Sandra and Paul Migl, and Diane and Joseph Kallus; brother and sister-in-law Gary and Dolly Etzler of Hallettsville; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Marvin and Linda Bernsen of Rosebud; brother-in-law Travis Bernsen of Fort Worth; nephews Ross Patek of Katy, Jeffrey Kallus and Brady Etzler of Hallettsville, nieces Rian Jobe of Katy, Jennifer Migl of Victoria, and Holly Etzler of Hallettsville; and great-nephews Hayden Jobe and Clayton Patek of Katy.

David was welcomed into heaven by his son Joshua Alexander Etzler who died in 2005, and his grandparents, Alfred and Anna Etzler, and Peter and Christina Kristek.

Service: 10 am, Thursday, March 6, 2008 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Visitation: 1 pm, Wednesday at Kubena Funeral Home. Rosaries: 7:30 pm, Wednesday at Kubena Funeral Home; and 9:30 am, Thursday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Officiate: Rev. Charles Sonnier. Pallbearers: Travis Bernsen, Jeffrey Kallus, Brady Etzler, Ross Patek, Keith Jobe, and James Shimek. Burial: Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery. Memorials: M D Anderson G I Center or Donor's Choice.