In loving memory of
David Paul Ebert
7 November 1989 - 9 March 2025
South Africa Memorial Service Details
Please note: on Friday 21 March there will be a viewing at Fernleigh Chapel from 2pm-4pm, which is open to anyone who wishes to attend.
17 Fernbank Road, Prestbury, Pietermaritzburg
17 Fernbank Road, Prestbury, Pietermaritzburg
The link to view the memorial service can be found on the Caring Bridge website.
Minnesota Memorial Service Details
Still to be announced, will probably take place late August.
Obituary
David Paul Ebert, 35, of Hilton, South Africa, passed away after a sudden illness on March 9, 2025, at Hilton Life Hospital, while family and friends gathered close in love and support.
David was born on November 7, 1989, in St. Paul, Minnesota, to Paul and Diane Ebert. He grew up in St. Paul, attended Cretin Derham Hall High School, and later graduated from Taylor University in Indiana with a degree in math education. He went on to teach high school math at Grace College in Hilton, South Africa, followed by work as a business intelligence expert for a friend, and then became a data analyst for Crickmay & Associates. He would eventually use his math expertise as a BI developer for Hepstar in Cape Town, South Africa, working remotely.
David was known for his talented love of music. He played many instruments and had led worship in a variety of settings since his teens. He also enjoyed adventuring in the outdoors; he fondly recalled trips to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area growing up and enjoyed hiking and camping in the Drakensberg Mountains with his wife and children. He always kept a garden and loved exploring all of the new plant varieties in the southern hemisphere. He was heavily invested in his community and worked to love and support those in the margins; he and Stephanie labored tirelessly to cultivate wide welcome in their home, Windhover. He loved being a dad and enjoyed playing board games, playing cricket, and building lego with his sons. He was overjoyed to be welcoming a daughter later in 2025.
David is survived by his wife Stephanie Ebert, his sons Bram and Ira Ebert, and his unborn daughter, due in June of 2025. He is also survived by his parents, Paul and Diane Ebert, his sister Ann (David) O’Neill, and brother Mengistu (Dahab Mesmer) Fickack, along with many cherished aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his nephew Elijah David O’Neill and aunt Tricia Clark, as well as his grandparents Mel Sandbakken, Renee Sandbakken, Leo Ebert, and Millie Ebert.
His memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at 9 a.m. at Union Bible Institute in South Africa, and will be live-streamed and recorded. We will update you on the details for the Minnesota Service once they are confirmed.
David was born on November 7, 1989, in St. Paul, Minnesota, to Paul and Diane Ebert. He grew up in St. Paul, attended Cretin Derham Hall High School, and later graduated from Taylor University in Indiana with a degree in math education. He went on to teach high school math at Grace College in Hilton, South Africa, followed by work as a business intelligence expert for a friend, and then became a data analyst for Crickmay & Associates. He would eventually use his math expertise as a BI developer for Hepstar in Cape Town, South Africa, working remotely.
David was known for his talented love of music. He played many instruments and had led worship in a variety of settings since his teens. He also enjoyed adventuring in the outdoors; he fondly recalled trips to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area growing up and enjoyed hiking and camping in the Drakensberg Mountains with his wife and children. He always kept a garden and loved exploring all of the new plant varieties in the southern hemisphere. He was heavily invested in his community and worked to love and support those in the margins; he and Stephanie labored tirelessly to cultivate wide welcome in their home, Windhover. He loved being a dad and enjoyed playing board games, playing cricket, and building lego with his sons. He was overjoyed to be welcoming a daughter later in 2025.
David is survived by his wife Stephanie Ebert, his sons Bram and Ira Ebert, and his unborn daughter, due in June of 2025. He is also survived by his parents, Paul and Diane Ebert, his sister Ann (David) O’Neill, and brother Mengistu (Dahab Mesmer) Fickack, along with many cherished aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his nephew Elijah David O’Neill and aunt Tricia Clark, as well as his grandparents Mel Sandbakken, Renee Sandbakken, Leo Ebert, and Millie Ebert.
His memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at 9 a.m. at Union Bible Institute in South Africa, and will be live-streamed and recorded. We will update you on the details for the Minnesota Service once they are confirmed.
David will be deeply and sorrowfully missed by his family, friends, and community. He was beloved in his time on earth, even as he is now perfectly beloved in the welcoming arms of God.
South Africa Memorial Service Program
Welcome: Andile Mzimela and John Stimson
Words of encouragement from the Scriptures
Prayer - Kurt
Worship in Song
- Porter’s Gate “O Come” lament song
- Jesus Strong and Kind
- 10 000 Reasons
- uThando (Come Holy Spirit)
Children's Talk
Tributes
- "Cares Chorus" (O'Neill boys, accompanied by Paul Gordijin)
- Ending with "Abide" (A photo and musical tribute)
Prayer for the family and friends - Brendan Botha
Message from Isa 25 - Ben Barthelemy
Song: In Christ Alone
Benediction
UBI Choir Item
iThemba Legacy Fund
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the iThemba Projects “David’s Legacy Fund” which will support the holistic community development work in South Africa he was so passionate about.
To give in USD for a tax-deductible gift, follow these steps:
1. Click this link to be directed to iThemba’s US giving portal.
2. Type in the amount you wish to give. Below the amount box from the dropdown menu labeled “My donation is for”, choose “General & Administration”.
3. Fill in the rest of your information. At the bottom in the comments box, write “David’s Legacy Fund.”
2. Type in the amount you wish to give. Below the amount box from the dropdown menu labeled “My donation is for”, choose “General & Administration”.
3. Fill in the rest of your information. At the bottom in the comments box, write “David’s Legacy Fund.”
This money will be held by iThemba and, in consultation with the family, used for a specific aspect of their community development work that David cared about.
David was passionate about this work because it focused on whole-person poverty alleviation, (spiritual, financial, educational, etc.) and he was very happy with how transparent they were with funds and tracking project impact. He assisted them with data analysis over the years to assess if the projects they were doing were actually making a difference, and not just making us all "feel good" that we were donating things. David had deep friendships with many of the staff at iThemba, and even when Steph stopped working there, continued to stay connected as a monthly financial partner and helping to host a small group in our home which involved many iThemba staff.
GoFundMe
While richly supported by their local friends and family, extended family have also set up a GoFundMe account titled “Support Stephanie and Family After David's Sudden Death” where personal donations can be accepted.
Caring Bridge
Stephanie and other family members are posting occasional updates through a Caring Bridge page which you can find here.
Story & Photo Collection
As we remember and celebrate the life of David, we are creating a special Memory Book for his children. This book will be a collection of cherished stories, photos, and reflections—a lasting tribute to their father’s life, love, and legacy.
We would love for you to contribute:
📖 Stories & Memories – Share a special moment, a favorite memory, or what David meant to you.
📸 Photos – Any pictures that capture his spirit and the times you shared. Please include a short caption or story with each photo to give it context.
📖 Stories & Memories – Share a special moment, a favorite memory, or what David meant to you.
📸 Photos – Any pictures that capture his spirit and the times you shared. Please include a short caption or story with each photo to give it context.
Our hope is that this book will give his children a deeper sense of their father’s impact on the world and the love that surrounded him.
Please send your contributions to inmemoryofdavidebert@gmail.com, or upload them directly to the Google Drive folder here.
Thank you for being part of this tribute to David and for helping us create something truly special for his children.
