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David Thomas Teberg was born 13 Aug 1929 in Highland Park,
IL, the youngest child of Ernest John Teberg and Mary Bertina Pease. The family
was living in Chicago while Ernest was a curator for the Museum of Science and
Industry. After the fateful day of 7 Dec 1941, Ernest, who had served in the
Corps of Engineers during World War I, was called back to active duty. The
family moved to Banning, CA, near a training center. David and his mother stayed
in Banning when Ernest was sent to the South Pacific. While in Banning, David
earned his Eagle Scout award. In 1946, David and his mother joined Ernest in
Seoul, Korea, so he had to finish high school by correspondence course. On their
return to the United States in 1948, David enrolled at the University of
Minnesota, majoring in electrical engineering.
The spring of his sophomore year he applied for admission to West
Point and received a third alternate appointment from the State of Minnesota.
David met his wife to be, Barbara, in the spring of his Yearling year at West
Point. They were married on graduation day, 8 Jun 1954, at 5:00 pm. The ceremony
was performed at the old Cadet Chapel with the reception in the Pershing Room of
Cullum Hall.
During David’s career as an Infantry officer, he saw duty
throughout the United States, Korea, Vietnam and Germany. Their daughter
Patricia Ann was born at Ft. Benning, GA, when the basic course was completed.
Their next duty station was Ft. Carson, CO, for 18 months before gyroscoping to
Germany with the 28th Infantry. Son William David was born in
Baumholder, Germany, and the next move was to Ft. Riley, KS. While at Ft. Riley,
another son, Robert Ernest, was born. After graduation from the Advanced Course
at Ft. Benning, David attended Georgia Tech and earned an MSEE degree in 1963.
After completing 13 months in Korea at Headquarters, Eighth Army,
the family was happy to spend three whole years together in Livermore, CA. His
assignment from 1964 to 1967 was with Field Command, DASA. During 1967–68, David
commanded a Training Battalion at Ft. Ord, CA. Then orders for Vietnam came, and
he served at 1st Division Headquarters and then commanded the 2nd Battalion,
18th Infantry, in the Big Red One. Upon returning to the States, the family
moved to Norfolk for the Armed Forces Staff College. In January 1970, the move
was to Germany, where David commanded the 2nd Battalion, 36th Infantry.
A year and a half later, David joined the Army War College class
of 1972. After graduation, he stayed on as deputy chief of staff until retiring
in 1975. David was Airborne and Ranger qualified. His decorations included the
Combat Infantryman Badge, Silver Star, two Legions of Merit, the Distinguished
Flying Cross, the Bronze Star with Valor, two Oak Leaf Clusters, Meritorious
Service Medal, 19 Air Medals, two Army Commendation Medals and the Purple Heart.
When the family moved to Crystal Lake, IL, David joined Lake
Region Realty, the firm his Dad began in 1968. Upon completing a housing
development of 90 homes, David went into training as a Financial Advisor with
Merrill Lynch, and finally retired in 1992.
Part of the eulogy given at his funeral by son Bill follows:
My dad was a man of few words. When he did speak, his ideas were
well thought out and presented and were always worth listening to. One of the
greatest compliments I have heard from people who knew my dad was that he had
such a high degree of integrity and was sincere and honest in all dealings with
people, both professionally and socially. My dad lived his life around these
principles. When he was diagnosed with cancer, it was a major setback for our
family, especially for my mother. But my dad never complained about it. All of
this stems from his character as a man. He accepted life, both the good and the
bad, for what it was and moved on. A remarkable man, my dad, he truly believed
that he has always been in God’s hands.
Most significant to me was the way my dad loved and respected my
mother. They were the epitome of a marriage made in Heaven. So many times Dad
would think up ways to surprise her and give her gifts. This was just another
example of the joy and respect my dad expressed to my mother.
To the very end David was a true patriot who loved and served his
country faithfully. He was a mighty warrior in fighting his battle with cancer.
When he was diagnosed, the doctors only gave him four to six months to live, and
he lived almost four more years. They didn’t know he was also a “stubborn
Swede.” When I asked David where he wanted to be buried, he replied, “At West
Point. It made me the man I am today.”
David was a loyal and trusted friend, a loving husband, devoted
father and so very proud of his seven grandchildren, Rachel, Gage, Kyle, Chase,
Colin, Cole and Kathryn. But most importantly, he was a child of God. Being able
to claim that promise, David is now completely at peace with his Heavenly
Father. We praise and thank God for that knowledge.
—Barbara Teberg & family
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