David Jenkins McCaa, 80, died March 24, 2017, in Brookings after a brief illness. A celebration of Dave's life will be held at 1:00 P.M. Saturday, June 3, 2017, at First United Methodist Church in Brookings. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a charity of your choice.  Eidsness Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Dave was born on Nov. 5, 1936, in York, Pa., to Robert and Helen (Horton) McCaa. He grew up near Philadelphia and attended Franklin and Marshall College before receiving a doctorate in physics at Ohio State University, where he met his wife, Mary Miller McCaa.

Dave spent much of his career in the research and development laboratories of CertainTeed Corp, where he conducted thermal testing of building materials. He retired in 1999 and soon moved with Mary to Morocco to serve as Peace Corps Volunteers. In Morocco they met fellow volunteers Fran and Harris Davis, who extolled the virtues of their hometown so effectively that Dave and Mary moved to Brookings in 2003, shortly after their return to the United States.

In Brookings Dave continued a lifetime commitment to community and church activities. He was active in the First United Methodist Church, where he sang in the choir and served as a trustee. Twice a week he enjoyed the physical work and camaraderie of building houses for Habitat for Humanity. He served as a board member for the South Dakota Council on World Affairs. With Solar Oven Partners, Dave and Mary made several trips to Haiti to build solar ovens for impoverished communities.

Travel and the outdoors were lifelong passions for Dave. He was an avid international traveler, and a January 2017 trip to Hawaii completed his quest to visit all 50 states. He remained active in Boy Scouts for more than 60 years and received a Silver Beaver Award for distinguished service to youth. His children learned to carry a backpack at a young age and have their passports ready.

He is survived by his wife, Mary; sons Jim McCaa of Seattle, Wash. and Craig McCaa of Fairbanks, Alaska; foster sons Thang and Tien Nguyen of Lancaster, Pa. and Thuy Nguyen of Thousand Oaks, Calif; twelve grandchildren; and sister Marian Thomas of Leawood, Ks.