David Michael Waltz, born August 23, 1943, died March 15, 2015.

Mike was born August 23, 1943, in Vandalia, IL, the son of Warren David "Dave" & Agnes Winefred (Miller) Waltz. Mike married Cheri Lynn Kerr in 1980, and they divorced in 2001. Their one child, Brent Waltz, was born October 1981, and passed away December 2004. He sas a retired Federal Prosecutor, Navy Veteran, Member of American Legion Post #95 and affiliated with the First United Methodist Church, Vandalia, IL

Graduate of Vandalia Community High School, 1961, and from University of Illinois, cum laude, with departmental distinction, in 1965, with a B.A. in political science. Obtained his Juris Doctor degree from University of Illinois College at Law in 1967 and was subsequently admitted to the State Bar of Illinois and worked in a civil litigation law firm until his entry on active duty in the U.S. Navy in early 1968.

In 1968/69 he served as a line officer in the U.S. Navy on Sea Duty off the Coast of Vietnam, where he earned the Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal (w/device), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Korea), and National Defense Service Medal.

September 1969 until September 1972, he served as a lawyer in the Judge Advocate General's Corps, initially as trial and defense counsel in courts martial at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and then completed his Naval service as Assistant Force Judge Advocate, Amphibious Forces, Pacific Fleet, under the command of Vice Admiral N.C. Johnson, a hero of the Cuban Naval Blockade.

Mike became a member of the California Bar in 1972 and worked with a private law firm, where he specialized in business litigation. In November 1975, he joined the U.S. Attorneys Office, San Diego, CA, where he handled criminal jury trials and appeals. He later joined the civil division and specialized in medical malpractice and personal injury litigation, in addition to handling constitutional Tort cases, employment discrimination suits, and real property cases involving the public lands. Several cases he handled at the District Court and Ninth Circuit levels were eventually decided by the Supreme Court of the United States.

He was nominated by the San Diego County Bar Association as a Superior Court judge pro tem. He also taught at the Attorney General's Advocacy Institute in Washington, D.C., and other Department of Justice Offices throughout the country.

Mike retired from the U.S. Attorney General Office, San Diego, and returned to Vandalia in 2005 where he enjoyed Vandalia athletics especially the Holiday Basketball Tournament, walks in the park with Duff, St. Louis Cardinal Baseball and the University of Illinois Basketball.

Mike is survived by: Beloved pet, Duff; Stepbrother, Kenny Etcheson, and family of Mount Washington, KY. First cousins Mark Miller and Mary of Vandalia, Judy Herr and Robert "Bob" of Glenn Carbon, IL, Cindy Doehring and Sonny of St. Simons Island, GA, Mary Ellen Graham of Bastrop, Texas, Ann Young of Novato, CA, Lori Ireton and families of Broken Arrow, OK

Private Family Services will be held at a later date.