Family Remembers Broken Arrow Man Who Died After Battle Against COVID-19

A Broken Arrow man has died after a short battle with COVID-19. His family said he was a family man with the biggest heart.

Janet Hilderbrand said her cousin, David Ullrich, was a caring man who adored his family.

"We grew up together,” Hilderbrand said. “I can remember back playing Barbie's and G.I. Joe's and going bike riding.”

Two weeks ago, Ulrich and his family all contracted COVID-19. 

"Hadn't gotten vaccinated yet,” Hilderbrand said. “I think they just had so much going on with the nine kids.”

About two days after he was diagnosed, Ullrich had trouble breathing and was taken to the hospital. 

 "A great loving family that was just loving life and then two weeks ago, they all at once came down with COVID," Hilderbrand said. 

After a few days in the hospital, Ulrich died. Hilderbrand said the entire family is heartbroken, especially his children.

Hilderbrand said Ullrich had 14 children, nine of whom he adopted and are still at home. 

"He was just a great father,” Hilderbrand said. “All of his children say the same thing that he, even when he was working full-time, that he was involved in their day-to-day life.”

She said their family is going to miss Ullrich and his fun personality and love of sports. 

"There's really no set pattern,” Hilderbrand said. “You don't know if you're going to get a mild version, or you're going to get something that devastating.”

If you’d like to help David’s family, a link to a GoFundMe can be found here.