He was born April 10, 1945, in Dixon, the son of Francis and Delores (Reuter) Dempsey.
David had been a union carpenter, owned and operated Dempsey Construction, and Dixon Glass and Sycamore/Dekalb Glass Company with his daughter and son-in-law, Dina and Eric, and his son David. David was a member of the Lee County Board from 1980 to 1988. He was a Republican Precinct Committee Person and attended Ronald Reagan’s 1980 inauguration. David coached youth sports. His Dixon Park District Summer Girls softball team won their age group league and tournament championships for 6 consecutive years, and his Dixon Junior Tackle 7th and 8th grade football team had a 21 and 1 record.
He was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church and was active in the church choir and Loaves and Fishes program, served on the parish council for 4 years, and was president of the St. Mary Home and School Assoc. for 8 years.
David was also a member of the Dixon Knights of Columbus Council 690, the Fr. Boland Assemble of the 4th Degree, and had been State Youth Director for the Knights of Columbus.
He is preceded in death by his parents and brother Marvin.
David is survived by Susan Meany and his children, Dina (Eric) Bushman of Dixon, Danette (John) Kelly of Barrington, DeShonne Dempsey Faught of Loves Park, David P. (Stephanie) Dempsey of Sycamore; 9 grandchildren, Ariel (Tino) Torres, Zachary Rice, Evan Bushman, Brynn Kelly, Megan Kelly, Connor Faught, Ella Faught, Aidan Faught, Sophia Faught; one great grandson, Tatum Torres; the mother of his children, Sandy LaMendola; one brother, Larry (Lou) Dempsey of Benton, KY; and one sister, Diane (Gary) Schnake of Dixon.
Mass of Christian Burial will be on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at 10:30 AM at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Dixon. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Dixon. Visitation will be Tuesday, April 14, 2026, from 3:00 to 7:00 PM, with the Rosary at 7:00 PM at the Holloway Center at St. Patrick’s in Dixon. Memorials to Newman Catholic High School and St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
