David Pfiffner

David G. Pfiffner, 63, of Las Vegas, NV, formerly of Lansing, passed away after suffering a heart attack November 8, 2020 at Centennial Hills Hospital in Las Vegas. In consideration of COVID-19, the family will hold a graveside service in Las Vegas Friday, December 4. A second service to celebrate his life and legacy will be held in his beloved hometown of Lansing in 2021, once it is safe to do so. Additional details surrounding that service will be shared at a later date.

David was born March 20, 1957 to Albert “Abby” and Wilma “Boots” (Hirth) Pfiffner. He graduated from Kee High School in Lansing in 1975 and went on to receive his bachelor’s degree from Winona State University in Minnesota.

Shortly after his college graduation, he moved west after accepting a job as a park ranger in Arizona. It was there that he met his wife, Rebecca (Antilla) Pfiffner, after the two were set up on a blind date by a mutual friend. The couple married in July of 1988, one month before moving to Las Vegas, where David had accepted a new job at the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) as the first boating game warden lieutenant in the Southern Region. He would spend 30 years at NDOW and the rest of his life in Las Vegas.

In his role, David spent his days on the water patrolling Lake Mead and in Nevada’s mountains protecting the wildlife population throughout the state. Though the schedule could be grueling, David loved his job more than anyone. It allowed him to be in the great outdoors and meet new people every day, two of his favorite things.

In 2008, Dave was recognized as the State and National Boating Officer of the Year by the National Association of Boating Law Administrators, in large part for his work in establishing the state’s Operating Under the Influence (OUI) program. His efforts helped get drunken boaters off the water thereby reducing the number of accidents in the state and saving lives.

He went on to become the State of Nevada Boating Law Administrator and game warden captain in 2009. Though it wasn’t required of him in his new role, Dave would make the time to go on patrol as often as his schedule would allow simply because he loved the job and thoroughly enjoyed spending time with his colleagues at NDOW.

The relationships he formed with those at NDOW helped him through the good times and the bad and brought immense joy into his life. He was a remarkable friend, mentor, teammate and leader to everyone he worked with.

During his last ten years on the job, he endured a number of health problems that forced him to undergo several operations. Though the recovery was not easy, David was able to fully resume his normal, active life, much to the shock of his doctors. He credited his resiliency to the long nightly walks he took around the neighborhood for more than 20 years for keeping his body strong and his mind sharp. It was on those walks that he met countless strangers who ultimately became close friends. Those relationships were incredibly meaningful in his life.

After his retirement in 2018, David’s focus shifted to his family and friends. He and his wife, Becky, were always working on projects together and finding ways to support their kids, Blake and Kelli. Dave and Blake, an officer for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, bonded over their careers in law enforcement. He was incredibly proud that his son followed in his footsteps. And though he was never very interested in sports, he became an avid Vegas Golden Knights fan after Kelli accepted a job with the team. Going to games with Becky became one of his favorite activities in recent years and he loved his occasional appearance on the jumbotron.

Most of all, Dave will be remembered for his big personality, infectious laugh and kind heart. As many people have pointed out in recent days, he was one of the good ones. The world is better off because of the time he spent in it.

David is survived by his wife, Becky; his children, Blake and Kelli; his brother, Frank Pfiffner, and sister-in-law, Mary Pfiffner; his sister, Annette Walter, and brother-in-law, Kenny Walter; his sister-in-law, Patty Knutson, and brother-in-law, Jim Knutson; his sister-in-law, Karen Delgado; his brother-in-law, Bill Antilla; his mother-in-law, Pat Antilla; and several nieces and nephews that meant so much to him, including Steve and Corie Goetzenberger, Jenna and Travis Bush, Gracie Knutson, Beth and Eric Sanchez, Brodey Sanchez, Rich and Kim Barnes, Bill and Melissa Barnes, Trisha and Matt Wilson, Alissa Walter, Adam Walter, Amanda Keough, Becca Pfiffner and Christopher Pfiffner. Dave always said he was the lucky one having them in his life.