David Whieldon Grinslade, 34 years old, passed away in Arlington Heights, Illinois, on April 19, 2017.  Born in Torrance, California, on August 21, 1982, he arrived in Arlington Heights at the age of 11 but remained at least half-Californian his entire life.  He attended South Middle School and Rolling Meadows High School, where he played football, made a touchdown, and danced in Orchesis.  He attended Malcolm X City College in Chicago, and was named to the USA Today All Academic Team in 2004 for community and junior colleges.  He earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Loyola University Chicago, graduating in 2011.  David was an insurance agent at Farmers Insurance in Schaumburg, Illinois. If anything defined David, his family did, including his two children, Angelene Jackson Grinslade and Ryan Philip Grinslade.  A hands-on dad, he delighted in family, focused on family, loved his family.  He dearly loved his wife, Stefanie Berecz Grinslade.  A singer in his favorite band, The Right Now, he called Stefanie his bird.  He was beyond proud of his wife.  In "Carry Me Home," one of the band's songs, Stefanie sings "if I'm not by your side when you go to sleep, shut your eyes and I will always be."  David is on his way home much earlier than expected.  But if Stefanie or Angelene or Ryan shut their eyes, they know David will be by their side. During David's all-too-brief stay on this earth, he experienced love and heartache, backpacked in Europe twice, cooked and fed his family and friends like a master chef, practiced martial arts, and recently realized his goal of owning a Harley Davidson.  His soul sister in California, K'Yala Cook, described David as vibrant and goofy and handsome and loving.  David's mother agrees.  He was a loving son. Many people who know David do not know he earned his degree at Loyola while battling reoccurring cancer and finally undergoing a bone marrow transplant at the University of Chicago Hospital.  Thereafter, he endured in silence years of debilitating and chronic pain – but never complained.  If any comfort can be snatched from his early departure from this earth, David's pain ended on April 19th. As his friends Jenny and Edwin Rivadeneira wrote, David "IS light.  Stellar dad, stellar human being.  And now a stellar angel."  The stellar angel was honored by a message on the iconic Chicago Cubs sign at the entrance to Wrigley Field.  Last Sunday, the sign proclaimed David W. Grinslade an "Angel in the Outfield."  Stefanie Grinslade's childhood friend, Kelly Bilbrey, arranged for the memorial that surprised and touched David's family. David is survived by his mother, Ridgely J. Jackson; his wife, Stefanie Berecz Grinslade; his children, Angelene and Ryan; his uncle, Bruce Jackson; his sisters, Jenny Scales, Gianna Campbell, Doretha Scales, and Myra Vaughn; his in-laws, Dave and Maritza Berecz; his brother- and sister-in-law, Ryan Berecz and Becky Sterling; his many cousins:  Melissa and Sharon Cooney-Ortiz and their children, Gabe and David; Sean and Kathy Grinslade and their children, Brandon and Paxton; Bret and Michelle Grinslade and their children, Gabrielle and Josette; his California family, Kevin, Danyla and K'Yala Cook; and a universe of friends.  David was preceded in death by his father, Philip R. Grinslade; and his grandparents, Edward and Ridgely P. Jackson, and Stanley and Lucy Grinslade. A service celebrating David's life will be held on Saturday, May 6, 2017, at 11:00 a.m., Cooney Funeral Home, 3918 West Irving Park Road, Chicago, Illinois 60618.  A link has been set up for David's children.  Please visit gofundme/angieryan.