David was born on February 2, 1941, in Sigourney. His father, Ward, and mother, Jean, were restaurant owners. He graduated from Sigourney High School in 1959. After high school, David graduated from Iowa Wesleyan College in 1964. In 1968, he married his wife, Carmen. Together they have two grown children, Mary, and David Jr., and one granddaughter, Sophie. David served in the United States Army Reserve 872nd Ordinance Company. He attends St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and is a member of the Knights of Columbus. He has served on numerous civic and professional organizations, including Kiwanis International, Henry County Pork Producers, Henry County Farm Bureau and the Iowa Licensed Beverage Association. He is past President of the Iowa Restaurant Association, former board member of the Mt. Pleasant Chamber of Commerce, and former Co-Chair of the Henry County Republican Party. In 1997, David received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Iowa Wesleyan College in Mount Pleasant.