David Hlifka

David M. Hlifka, age 70, of Erie, PA, passed away unexpectedly but peacefully at his residence on May 15, 2022. He was born in Erie, April 15, 1952, son of the late Joseph F. and Dorothy Ruth (Gackiewicz Morey) Hlifka.

As a young boy, Dave had a bright and comedic nature that he shared generously with his parents and siblings. As a teen, he enjoyed the beaches and swimming at Presque Isle State Park, and exploring and spending time in nature at the family’s camp in the Allegheny National Forest. He was a 1970 graduate of Strong Vincent High School.

Over the years, Dave worked various jobs trying to find what suited him. He enjoyed working as an IT Technical Phone System Administrator for Erie Insurance Company for about 15 years, until his retirement in April 2020. 

Dave had several hobbies he enjoyed over the years. He loved being in the outdoors, probably fostered by the experiences at his family’s camp where most weekends and summer vacations were spent as a child. He had a passion for tent camping and in recent years, for staying at cabins in various Pennsylvania State Parks including Lin Run and Parker Dam. He made several trips out west with family members to visit Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Bryce Canyon, Zion, and Grand Canyon National Parks. He enjoyed floating rivers, canoeing, camp fires, riding his motorcycles, dirt bikes, e-bikes, and even riding horses. He recently commented about how wonderful it was to live on one of the Great Lakes and often took rides around Presque Isle on one of his bikes. Another of his hobbies was photography - particularly favoring photos of nature and landmarks. In recent years, he enjoyed flying drones and taking videos of local landscapes. He had a knack for electronics and liked to acquire and make use of the latest handy gadgets. He used his technical knowledge and skills to custom tailor his home computer and TV equipment to his liking. Dave enjoyed listening to and playing Electronic Dance Music (EDM) and shared his hobby with his brother Joe. They exchanged music style files, custom musical loops and phrases and synthesizer sounds to play on their keyboards. Dave got Joe interested in this hobby by introducing him to Atari computers and MIDI (musical instrument digital interface) in the mid 1990’s.

Dave insisted upon staying active and young at heart and we could always count on him to share humorous perspectives on life, as well as having a rebellious attitude towards certain rules within our society. His presence in our lives will be deeply missed.

Dave was preceded in death by his brother Allan Richard Hlifka (1995), his father Joseph (2000), his mother Dorothy Ruth (2013), his sister Sheila R. Hlifka (2019) and his brother-in-law Samuel D. Fanshaw (2021). He is survived by his half-brother Frank R. Hlifka, half-sister Marian Mountain, brother Joseph S. Hlifka, sister Donna Fanshaw, and several cousins, nieces and nephews.

It was Dave’s wish to be cremated and his cremains to be scattered in places that he loved - Lake Erie and wooded areas of Pennsylvania that he spent so much of his recreational time in.

Friends and family are invited to call at the Burton Funeral Home, 525 Main St E, Girard, PA. on Tuesday, June 21, 2022 from 3:00 PM until 6:00 PM.

Memorials in Dave’s memory can be made to: I AM Sanctuary of Erie, PO Box 3114, Erie, PA 16508.

Condolences to the family can be made online at www.BurtonQuinnScott.com.