Nursery business natural for West Deer man who loved outdoors
David Lamperski had the reputation of being a modern-day Johnny Appleseed -- the fabled nurseryman who planted apple trees across the Midwest in the early 1800s.
Unlike Appleseed, David Lamperski's specialties included birches, evergreens and Dutch elms, which he planted and sold throughout the environs of the Allegheny River Valley.
Mr. Lamperski's customers included many golf courses and public parks, in addition to other homeowners, businesses and institutions, said his brother-in-law, Mark Draskovich of West Deer.
Vincent David Lamperski of West Deer, an employee of Wildwood Country Club in Hampton, died on Monday, July 25, 2011, in his home. He was 61.
"David's evergreens were a big seller during the Christmas holiday," Draskovich said. "David got his start in the family's greenhouse, while he was attending Deer Lakes High School. It was a natural progression for a young man who enjoyed the outdoors and hunting and trapping."
Born and raised in West Deer, Mr. Lamperski was one of five children of Vincent P. and Marie A. Lamperski, who opened the greenhouse in the 1950s on their 26-acre farm in the township.
In 1967, after graduating from high school, Mr. Lamperski enlisted in the Army and volunteered to serve in Vietnam, Draskovich said.
"Although David was one of three survivors of a group of 20 infantryman who were cut down by enemy fire during heavy fighting, he never regretted serving his country and continued to serve in the Army Reserve when he returned home," Draskovich said.
"He was a kind and caring man. On one occasion, he found two horses that were abandoned and starving. He kept one and sent the other one to the stables at Hartwood Acres, where it developed into a first-class thoroughbred."
Draskovich also recalled Mr. Lamperski's interest in songwriting and country music.
"He enjoyed the time he spent in Nashville," Draskovich said. "David played the guitar and wrote songs for friends, groups that he liked and especially for his sisters, JoAnne, Carolyn and Elaine, who were known professionally as the Country Belles."
Mr. Lamperski is survived by his sisters, Theresa Lamperski of Michigan, JoAnne Draskovich of West Deer, Carolyn Talerico of Richland and Elaine Bodnar of West Deer.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. today in St. Victor Church, Bairdford, West Deer, with the Rev. Charles Speicher as celebrant.
Interment with military honors will follow in National Cemetery of Alleghenies in Cecil. Arrangements are being handled by Schellhaas Funeral Home Ltd. in Bakerstown.
