David “Biggs” Bouck passed away peacefully on March 3, 2017 surrounded by his loving family. Dave was born at home in Ilion on March 20, 1936 to Lewis and Harriette (Snyder) Bouck. He was a 1954 graduate of Ilion High School where he was a standout athlete in football, basketball and track. A graduate of Oswego State Teachers College in 1958, Dave also excelled in basketball and track while in college. Dave continued his education at both Cortland and Oneonta, receiving his masters in teaching. After a one year stint at Oneida High School, Dave spent the next 31 years of his life teaching industrial arts at Ilion High School, retiring in 1990. He coached both football and track at Ilion, and was especially proud of coaching state champion shot putter Tom Deyle. In 1959, he met the love of his life at Ilion High School, Irene Pogonowski, a business teacher. They were married on October 7, 1961 in Newport. They spent the next 55 years together in Ilion, at their horse farm on Shells Bush Road in Herkimer, in retirement in Spring Hill, Florida and settled in Schuyler in 2002. Surviving are his wife Irene, children Kim (Michael), Kelly, Eric (Pam) and grandchildren Keith (fiancé Vanessa), Max, Jack and Richard. He is also survived by his baby brother Donnie (Betty), special nieces and nephews, Erin, Michael, Matt, Chris, Allison, Frank, Kathy, Jeff, Ron, and his extraordinary caregiver niece Jana. Other “special” family members include Smokey and Paula Kucerak, lifelong friends Bob Deming and Bob Haas, and his constant companion his German Shepard, Dutchess. Besides his parents, Dave was pre-deceased by his brothers Paul (Vivian), Lewis (Loretta), Mike (Mary) and Frank (Gen). Mr. Bouck’s funeral will be held on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at the Heintz Funeral Home, 408 Herkimer rd., N. Utica. A spring interment will be held in St. John’s Cemetery in Newport, NY. Calling hours for family and friends are Monday from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Those wishing to make a donation in David’s name, please consider the Herkimer County Humane Society, 514 NY-5S, Mohawk, NY 13407 or the Stevens-Swan Humane Society, 5664 Horatio St., Utica, NY 13502.