David Nussbaum

David W. Nussbaum, 92, of Berne passed away Thursday, Nov. 23, 2023, at Swiss Village in Berne. He was born Feb. 20, 1931, in Berne to Clifton L. and Louise E. (Lehman) Nussbaum. He was married Oct. 12, 1957, to Audrey K. Whitehurst. She preceded him in death Oct. 23, 2006. He was married Jan. 10, 2009, to Carolee (Loudin) Roop. She preceded him in death Oct. 3, 2022.
He served the church standing behind First Mennonite Church cameras for decades and began broadcasting radio services long before that. The worship commission wanted the entire congregation to hear his story of service to honor him and give thanks to God for the talent and dedication of Dave Nussbaum. His love for broadcasting began early and took him to Chicago, where he studied television service. He followed up his two-year program in Chicago with a six-week course in New York where he spent much of his free time in a live studio audience. “My Hit Parade,” Dave’s favorite show to watch live, involved singers who took turns performing songs on stage. He even sat in on some live radio programs while in New York.
Upon returning home, he settled into a job as a cameraman at WKJG TV Channel 33 in Fort Wayne. He worked the early shift, beginning broadcasting at 6 a.m. with a live pastor offering a devotion each morning. Live local news followed and then the NBC network morning shows aired. After the Today Show and the Morning Show, he would film more live news before more network shows, like soap operas, filled the afternoons. He really enjoyed his job and the people he worked with. He specifically remembers John Seymour, a newscaster, who also hosted a live morning show for kids called “Engineer John.” He fondly remembers blowing through a half-inch pipe to make a whistling sound like a train for the show. Seymour called that “The Berne Train” because he knew Dave was from Berne, and Berne still had a running train at the time. All of his co-workers knew he served at First Mennonite Church in broadcasting, and he chuckled to remember the nickname they gave him, the “Rubber-Tired Amish.” He especially enjoyed working with Hilliard Gates, calling him “a great announcer.”
Most days, he would work from the station. On occasion, they would venture to the Coliseum, and one time they came to Berne — First Mennonite Church to be exact. They produced a Christmas morning program and Dave recorded the bell choir at church for the occasion. He also is the one responsible for arranging for the Berne High School Choir to sing for the station’s “Carols for Christmas.” They had a program lined up and one school canceled, so they asked him if he knew of a choir they could record. He took them to Berne where they recorded audio of the choir and then brought the students to the station to film them lip-syncing to their own recording. The recording of the local high school choir was a long-standing tradition.
His work in recording at church began when he saw the equipment being used at his workplace. The church had begun sending church services through telephone lines to Swiss Village, but in 1952, he began looking at the equipment he was using at work and asking, “Why can’t we do this at church?” And so the legacy began. The church purchased a remote transmitter so local people could pick up the church services as long as they had a scanner. This service continues even today. They transmitted radio services exclusively for 32 years until 1984 when Rev. Bauman encouraged the church to purchase a camera and move to television. He remembers, “...everything was moving to television then.” Rev. Bauman’s leadership toward this advancement brought television broadcasting to First Mennonite Church. Surprisingly, the addition of a television broadcast was a bit of a controversy. Many residents of Swiss Village at the time thought the service unnecessary and were against the advancement. The church used one camera for a long time, then purchased a second for the chapel. After a while, two cameras were used in the sanctuary, pulling the one from the chapel each service. Eventually, a third camera was purchased so two could remain in the sanctuary and one in the chapel. Of course, cameras have been upgraded throughout the years, with the latest upgrade of high-definition cameras. Mrs. Les Lehman wrote the “Songs of Praise” radio program that he produced. At the start, he would record Rev. Bauman’s part two weeks in advance, spending many hours at the church in preparation for airing. He eventually convinced the leadership to give him his own key to the church so he could come and go as needed. Out of appreciation for his talent and dedication, they gladly gave him a key to the church!
He is survived by two daughters, Nancy (Danny) Mock; and Michelle (Chris) Sealscott, both of Berne; two stepsons, Jeff (Sandy) Roop of Geneva; and Mike (Sheila) Roop of Decatur; stepdaughter, Karen (Tom) Thowsen of Henderson, Nevada; brother, John (Marilyn) Nussbaum of Fort Wayne; sister-in-law, Marie W. Nussbaum of Berne; brother-in-law, Fred (Mary) Whitehurst of Berne; eight grandchildren, Stephenie Kuhn-Zeigler; Amy Lehman; Jason Anderson; Aaron (Kristina) Kuhn; Conner (Rachel) Sealscott; Carlie Sealscott; Jonathan (Chelsea) Mock; and Marissa Mock; four step-grandchildren, Doug (Kayli) Roop; Chelsey (Jordan) Neal; Jeff (Jackie) Roop; and Isaac Roop; 13 great-grandchildren; and four step great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Ronald David Nussbaum; daughter, Kathy Sue Kuhn; three sisters, Virginia C. McClure; Doris Thomann; and Lena Felber; and two brothers, Harold W. Nussbaum; and Charles E. Nussbaum.
Visitation will be one hour prior to the 10:30 a.m. memorial service Saturday, Dec. 9 at First Mennonite Church in Berne. Officiating will be Pastor Jeff Linthicum.
Memorials may be made to First Mennonite Church.
Arrangements provided by Zwick & Jahn Funeral Homes, Yager-Kirchhofer Chapel in Berne. To sign the online guest book, visit www.zwickjahn.com.