David Clarence Featherstun of Mt. Pleasant, IA, passed away on March 14, 2025 at the age of 47. David was also known as Dave Bennett to the people in his hometown because he wanted to by mysterious and cool like that…In reality, it was easier to go by Bennett that to explain why he had a different name than his dad. His friends also knew him as just Dave, his military friends knew him as “Nuts”, and to his admirers as “The Dave”.
David was born February 6, 1978 in Ridgecrest, CA. He was the oldest son (by 5 minutes and bragged about it) to Ann (Mettenburg) Bennett and Robert Featherstun. Ann remarried in 1990 and David, along with his twin brother Thomas and younger sister Cassie, gained a father in John Bennett.
After high school David joined the US Air Force where he thrived and became part of an Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) team where he was given the nickname “Nuts”. Was it because he was crazy? Nope – just that it is the last four letters in his last name spelled backwards. While on active duty, he was stationed stateside and overseas in Panama and Italy. David had deployments to Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan. He came back to Iowa to retire from the military after 9-11 and a few trips to the Middle East. He was repeatedly drawn back to the military and maintained connections through the Reserves and National Guard, deploying several more times. He was a Veteran and a brother to many, not just to family and friends.
David leaves behind two sons, Tristan and Gabriel Featherstun of Washington, IA. He enjoyed weekends with the boys at the farm or out and about. Some of the greatest memories are adventures with the boys and cousins exploring and spending time together with their families. Family birthdays and holidays were never dull with everyone together.
David also leaves behind his best friends and anchor, Alyssa Sarazin of Burlington, IA. They enjoyed cooking together, sending photos to brag about delicious food to family and friends. They loved to travel together and were quite the team.
David was always helping others and was passionate about his work. For the last few years, he worked for one of his best friends, Josh Klindt, and was able to fulfill his need to help others, and boss people around.
David was a master at debating-arguing-dictating-talking…whatever you would like to call it. David could debate anything and thrived on playing Devil’s Advocate. If you had a minute, he would love to discuss politics, religion…really anything, and tell you exactly how it is. After a few hours, he might let you go if he was done telling you how he was right. Joking aside, David loved to discuss politics and was passionate about his own personal convictions. However ornery, he did enjoy hearing and empathizing with other people’s points of view.
David enjoyed the outdoors and took his boys fishing, hunting, hiking, boating and camping. If it was outdoors, he was all in. He enjoyed mushroom hunting with his family, even though Cassie always out-hunted him and Thomas could smell them before David had a chance to see them. He said he liked deer hunting, but we are convinced he did it only so he was not left out and to have the opportunity to debate with someone. He liked to go to the Bennett Farm to repair fences, clean out barns or just to be with the animals and fresh air.
David had the best friends in the world, who have been by his side since moving to Iowa. Having friend connections like these are rare and beautiful; you know who you are, and David thought the world of you.
David meets in heaven his maternal grandmother, Mary Fran Mettenburg. They are probably playing a game of Euchre with great grandparents, Joe and Virginia Heitz, great-grandparents Joe and Mildred Mettenburg will greet him too with open arms. If anyone was bored, no worries – the entertainment has arrived.
Left behind to have no one to debate with to the level David provided are his parents, Ann and John Bennett of Mt. Pleasant, siblings Thomas Bennett of Mt. Pleasant and Cassie (Troy) Graber of Wayland, IA; David’s children – Tristan and Gabe Featherstun of Washington, IA; his girlfriend, Alyssa Sarazin of Burlington, IA; his beloved nieces and nephews who thoroughly enjoyed their Uncle David: Owain Bennett, Elyssa Graber, Deedra Graber, Jacob Graber and Jenna Graber; his grandfather, Clarence Mettenburg of Mt. Pleasant, and his grandmother Rose Bennett of Spokane, WA. Also leaving behind lots of close uncles, aunts and cousins. David stayed close to his stepchildren, Asia, Jayden, Jaren, Lexi (and special niece Nikki). He had a good relationship with his ex-wife Keetah Featherstun of Washington. We are fortunate that our blended families can all sit together as a big family for the boys’ activities at school. He also leaves behind his father Robert Featherstun of Oceanside, CA, and siblings – Val (Rob Felgar) Featherstun of Fontana, CA, Steph (Brett) Ashmore of Justin, TX and their children, Robby Featherstun and his children of Oceanside, CA, and Melissa (Taylor) Villa and their child of Ontario, CA.
A celebration of David’s life will be held beginning at 12 Noon on Sunday, June 15 at the Lodge at Lake Darling State Park. A private family inurnment will be held at Richwoods Cemetery, rural Mt. Pleasant.
The Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 N. Main St., Mt. Pleasant, is caring for David and his family.
