Hazelip Jr., David Jerome

David Jerome Hazelip Jr. unexpectedly passed away this past week after being declared missing July 30, 2024, by our parents. He was found August 2, 2024 in the River Des Peres, in Affton, MO. His family received the shocking news Saturday, August 5, 2024.

The reason why is still unknown, his family is anxiously awaiting the coroners report. Praying for answers as we are left absolutely devastated and at a loss for words. Still in disbelief this day has tragically come. David struggled with his demons for most of his life, as we all know, but he is now at peace and resting with his beloved Mother Mary. He was very loving, funny, and passionate about family. He adored his 3 children, 3 sisters, and most of all his Mom and Dad. He couldn’t always show it but when he did he was generous and giving. Despite all our differences and ups and downs, he loved us all dearly and wanted us to put aside any grievances and love one another. David was born January 30, 1982 and grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. He was raised by his parents, David and Jodi Hazelip, and with his sisters Cristina, Tara, and Melissa. To others we were a blended family, but to us, we were always just family. The closeness of family always a prominent factor in life growing up. Big family gatherings at holidays and for birthday parties. Our Dad taking us hiking all around the mountains of the Phoenix Valley was a highlight we looked forward too several times a year. Every 4th of July we spent together, just the 6 of us, on the roof of our home watching fireworks for hours in all directions. Our mom making strawberry shortcake annually (despite being highly allergic to strawberries) was the best grand finale. He went to Echo Mountain and Cactus View Elementary, Vista Verde Middle School, Aqua Fria and Millenium High School. He got his GED in 2000 and began working as a cook at a local restaurant. A job he held frequently no matter where he lived.

David mainly spent the later half of his adult life in St. Louis, MO after his family moved to the area in 2004. He was previously married to Erin Dirnberger, who gave him 3 beautiful and amazing children, Sean, Paige, and David III. David was amazed at becoming a father and cherished each birth as they came along. His struggles with mental health became too great, and eventually, they divorced. He always cherished the good times as a family, and didn’t hold any ill feelings toward anyone who had become estranged from him in his life. He knew it was a difficult road chasing his demons, not always within his control, and his decisions led him to where he was now, with Mother Mary. It was just as it was meant to be and was God’s will, as he would put it. One day, he hoped, he could have repaired those misdeeds. He had made amends with himself, with God, and Mother Mary for what he has done in life.

He also spent a number of years in and around Kansas City, MO. A time, as I understand, he largely spent being homeless but of which he still recalled some great tales of attending sporting events, any free city event, parades, & fairs, and eating gourmet food from various soup kitchens. He loved the city’s diversity and character. He also loved the Kansas City Chiefs and often donned their shirt or hat. Little else is known by his family about who he knew there, what he did, or where he stayed. I am sure he had friends there, as he made friends everywhere he went. No one was a stranger. He would talk to anyone who would listen. He found happiness in baseball games and loved both the Phoenix Diamondbacks and St. Louis Cardinals. He was very silly and had a quirky sense of humor with a laugh to fill an entire room. He aimed to make everyone he met laugh and smile at least a little bit.

He loved eating delicious food and cooking. He once aspired to become a chef and for a time attended a local culinary school. He also loved animals very very much. He always found a way to have a dog or cat in his life. He loved their endless affection. He also had a passion for music. Writing lyrics, singing, and listing to music. He loved Tupac and Mariah Carey while growing up. He had a pipe dream to one day become a rapper. While incarcerated the past 6 years he found a love so profound and so deep, a love to transcended all time and space. That was his love for Mother Mary. His religion, his calling, his faith, his belief, his passion. All of it rested with Mother Mary. He devoutly read the Bible and was able to recall passages and quotes as he studied it day after day while alone in a cell. His main companion everyday for the nearly 3 years he spent in isolation, was his Bible and Mother Mary. David believed so deeply she had his back through and through. She had answered his prayers time and time again. His conviction of faith was one to stand the test of time. Time that was taken from him too soon. He was not yet done proving his path in life was a changed one. Let us all remember that and carry on his message of faith and love for Mother Mary.

Despite his troubles, he was a kind soul and very smart in school. He put on a tough guy persona, but honestly on the inside he was a very sweet guy. I truly wish he could have overcome his mental health troubles to heal and get through all of it one day. He had expressed his hope to one day repair relationships with those who he lost touch with, most especially his children. He adored them to the end of the universe and spoke of them often in letters we exchanged the past several years while he was incarcerated, I’m just so very sorry he didn’t get to spend another holiday or birthday with his family again. He had become very lonely and lost, but was on the path to redemption and attempting to turn things around. He was so very proud of his children and loved them immensely. He wanted them to grow up and not have the same troubles he did, to do better, and overcome everything they had been through. He was very loved by his family and touched more lives than he knows he did. He had a whole team of cheerleaders on the side praying and hoping he would get better. Get help. I’m sad that day was taken from him.

We are devastated at the loss of our father, son, brother, nephew, cousin, and friend David Jerome Hazelip Jr. He leaves behind many family members, including his parents, David & Jodi Hazelip, his sisters, Cristina Friedman (husband Alex Friedman, and her children Nicholas Abad, Bailey Abad, Max Gable, & Capri Gable) and Melissa Lipina (husband Ryan Lipina, and their children Lukus Lipina, & Hunter Lipina), his children Sean Hazelip, Paige Hazelip, and David Hazelip III, Uncle Jack & Aunt Donna Hazelip, Uncle Larry & Aunt Selma Hazelip, Aunt Linda Fernandez, Uncle Charlie Hazelip, Uncle Rob and Aunt Katie Hill, Uncle Pat Hill, Aunt Lauri Genovese, Aunt Beverly Hill, Cousins Larry Hazelip, Gemma Hazelip Heuer, Jackson Hazelip Heuer, Kris Hogge, Aaron Hogge, Tim Hogge, Hannah Hogge, Ryan Hill, Madison Hill, Joseph Hill, Kelsea Hill, Cody Hill, Jennifer Kittler, Robert Kelly, his biological mother, Robin Walker, half sister Jessica Walker, step-sister Tara Krawczyk and her children Dominic Veath, Emma Veath, Younis Challal and Sara Challal, and the mother of his children, Erin Dirnberger. He is preceded in death by his Aunt Kay Hazelip, Grandma Dolores & Grandpa Charlie Hazelip, Gramma Jan and Grandpa Buddy Watkins, Uncle Rick Hill. Give them all a big hug from us down here. We will miss you Big Brother. See you one day in heaven with our Heavenly Father and Mother Mary. God Bless you.

SERVICES: Memorial visitation at Kutis Affton Chapel 10151 Gravois Rd. 63123 on Saturday, August 17 from 2-4 pm. with Memorial Service time at 4:00 pm. Interment will be held in private.