David Schimpf:
CLASS OF 1973
Carrollton Community High SchoolClass of 1973
Carrollton, IL
Illinois Wesleyan UniversityClass of 1977
Bloomington, IL
David's Story
After high school, went one year to Illinois Wesleyan Univ. in Bloomington. Got my one year of credits, went in debt and got out of there.
Met my music partner there at college. Started up a duo called "Two For The Show". From the outset I was given carte blanche to be a complete, blithering, out-of-control idiot and played the part to the hilt. Shoot, I'd been showing off for years...it just took a while to figure out how to get paid for it! My on-stage persona was "Crazy Dave" and I did my best to make the name fit!
Started out playing Ramadas and Holiday Inns, graduated to county and state fairs, corporate conventions, casinos, some t.v. (including the Gong Show!...), shot a few videos, recorded four albums, traveled over 3 million miles, played in front of more than a million people, saw 48 states, Canada, Mexico, Virgin Islands and South Korea. The band grew to as large as 6 people at times and we finished our music career as we started...as a duo. We did the last 6 months with just him and I. Perfect ending. We were together for 30 1/2 years...longer than most marriages!
When I was off the road I made some extra coin by doing handyman stuff for little old ladies around the Pittsfield area. My client base grew.
Got married in 1979. Lived in Chaffee, MO. for 5 years.No kids. Divorced in 1985. Married again a month later in 1985. Two kids, boy (Cagney) and a girl (Chyna). They're 23 and 17 right now (2/9/09). Lived in Pittsfield for 18 years. Got divorced again in 2003. It doesn't get any easier the 2nd time!
Met a great woman in St. Peters, MO...moved down there, got married (for the 3rd time....!......) in 2007 and started my full-time handyman business called....wait for it.....wait for it....Dave's Handyman Service. Catchy, huh?
Business has been good, and the variety of stuff that I get to do keeps boredom away. I'm still self-employed, set my own hours, choose my work and am enjoying coming home every night to a loving woman who understands me.
I got a lot of the clowning around (along with the self-destructive habits that go with the road) out of my system and am living a clean, quiet life in St. Peters. Don't drink no mo, never smoked (cigarettes), don't run around, don't stay out too late.
I've got fou...Expand for more
r granddaughters now. They love to wrestle with 'grandpa'. I try to show them all the bad habits that I can get away with...much to the chagrin of my son....payback! ha, ha...
Love it, love my wife and love my life. Hope you all out there are good in your skin, as well.
Update on (2/5/14):
Company name now is Dave's Handyman & Home Remodeling. Still a one-man business. Business is excellent. Phone is always ringing and it's good to be in demand. I don't niche myself to one type of job description. I am, pretty much, a jack-of-all-trades, which goes well with staying busy.
I specialize in remodeling for people but still do the handyman stuff when needed.
I just recently received my latest Angie's List Super Service Award for doing outstanding service and keeping my "A" rating in Angie's List for the whole year. This is the 6th year in a row to receive one. It pays off by keeping the phone busy. Within the next month my client base is set to cross over the 1000 person mark.
I'm still married to that wonderful woman, Stacey. We have a house in Warrenton, MO now and it's nice to come home each night to her and our two little Shih tzu dogs. (Their main purpose in life is to keep my lap warm when I'm in the recliner).
My son, Cagney, now 28, works for Wal-Mart in Pittsfield. My daughter, Chyna (22), is a LPN for the penitentiary in Bowling Green. They, presently, still live in Pittsfield and I see them from time to time. I'm proud of them both.
I don't really miss playing music. That's a question that I get asked a lot. It's one of those "been there, done that a thousand times" kind of things. It's nice to be incognito again. But, if the time is ever right, I might get up and jam a bit with some band, somewhere. Don't know. Never say never. I finallly broke down and last year purchased a baby grand digital piano to tinkle around on when the mood strikes. It decorates the front room.
Still got most my hair. It's graying on the sides now. More wrinkles around the eyes, belly is too fat for my taste. Shoot, I guess that's called "getting older", eh? All in all still in pretty good shape. The handyman thing keeps me active.
Can't complain. Still on the top side of the grass. Hope all is well for you all out there. Dave-
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