Sec Form 4 Filing - WARNKE KARL J @ DAVEY TREE EXPERT CO - 2017-10-13

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

OMB APPROVAL OMB Number: 3235-0287 Expires: November 30, 2011 Estimated average burden hours per response... 0.5

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person WARNKE KARL J 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol DAVEY TREE EXPERT CO [ NONE] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) X __ Director _____ 10% Owner _____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) (Last) (First) (Middle) 1500 NORTH MANTUA STREET 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 10/13/2017 (Street) KENT, OH44240 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) __ X __ Form filed by One Reporting Person _____ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 10/13/2017 S/K 21,399 ( 1 ) ( 2 ) D $ 18.3 ( 2 ) 484,845 I By Karl J. Warnke Trust Common Stock 10/13/2017 M 12,000 ( 2 ) A $ 11.6 ( 2 ) 496,845 I By Karl J. Warnke Trust Common Stock 10/13/2017 M 10,000 ( 2 ) A $ 13.2 ( 2 ) 506,845 I By Karl J. Warnke Trust Common Stock 10/13/2017 M 8,000 ( 2 ) A $ 15.05 ( 2 ) 514,845 I By Karl J. Warnke Trust Common Stock 10/13/2017 M 24,000 ( 2 ) A $ 8.2 ( 2 ) 538,845 I By Karl J. Warnke Trust Common Stock 10/13/2017 M 24,000 ( 2 ) A $ 8.3 ( 2 ) 562,845 I By Karl J. Warnke Trust Common Stock 10/13/2017 M 24,000 ( 2 ) A $ 9.2 ( 2 ) 586,845 I By Karl J. Warnke Trust Common Stock 10/13/2017 M 24,000 ( 2 ) A $ 9.85 ( 2 ) 610,845 I By Karl J. Warnke Trust Common Stock 10/13/2017 M 65,380 ( 2 ) A $ 11.6 ( 2 ) 676,225 I By Karl J. Warnke Trust Common Stock 10/13/2017 M 68,600 ( 2 ) A $ 13.2 ( 2 ) 744,825 I By Karl J. Warnke Trust Common Stock 10/13/2017 M 68,600 ( 2 ) A $ 15.05 ( 2 ) 813,425 I By Karl J. Warnke Trust Common Stock 10/13/2017 M 68,600 ( 2 ) A $ 16.35 ( 2 ) 882,025 I By Karl J. Warnke Trust Common Stock 10/13/2017 M 34,400 ( 2 ) A $ 17.6 ( 2 ) 916,425 I By Karl J. Warnke Trust Common Stock 10/13/2017 D 288,339 ( 2 ) ( 3 ) D $ 18.3 ( 2 ) 628,086 I By Karl J. Warnke Trust Common Stock 10/13/2017 F 56,167 ( 4 ) D $ 18.3 571,919 I By Karl J. Warnke Trust Common Stock 10/13/2017 F 17,132 ( 5 ) D $ 18.3 70,274 ( 6 ) I PRSUs Common Stock 10/13/2017 D 12,003 ( 7 ) D $ 18.3 58,271 ( 6 ) I PRSUs Common Stock 10/13/2017 G 12,003 ( 7 ) A $ 0 583,922 I By Karl J. Warnke Trust Common Stock 289,930 ( 2 ) I By Barbara R. Warnke Trust Common Stock 97,726.4489 ( 8 ) I By 401(k) Plan

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities) 1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares Non-Qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 11.6 ( 2 ) 10/13/2017 M 12,000 ( 2 ) 06/24/2014( 9 ) 06/24/2023 Common Stock 12,000 $ 0 0 D Non-Qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 13.2 ( 2 ) 10/13/2017 M 10,000 ( 2 ) 06/30/2015( 9 ) 06/30/2024 Common Stock 10,000 $ 0 0 D Non-Qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 15.05 ( 2 ) 10/13/2017 M 8,000 ( 2 ) 06/29/2016( 9 ) 06/29/2025 Common Stock 8,000 $ 0 0 D Stock Appreciation Rights (2009) $ 8.2 ( 2 ) 10/13/2017 M 24,000 ( 2 ) ( 10 ) 03/10/2010 12/31/2018 Common Stock 24,000 $ 0 0 D Stock Appreciation Rights (2010) $ 8.3 ( 2 ) 10/13/2017 M 24,000 ( 2 ) ( 10 ) 03/09/2011 12/31/2019 Common Stock 24,000 $ 0 0 D Stock Appreciation Rights (2011) $ 9.2 ( 2 ) 10/13/2017 M 24,000 ( 2 ) ( 10 ) 03/09/2012 12/31/2020 Common Stock 24,000 $ 0 0 D Stock Appreciation Rights (2012) $ 9.85 ( 2 ) 10/13/2017 M 24,000 ( 2 ) ( 10 ) 03/07/2013 12/31/2021 Common Stock 24,000 $ 0 0 D Stock Appreciation Rights (2013) $ 11.6 ( 2 ) 10/13/2017 M 65,380 ( 2 ) ( 10 ) 03/07/2014 12/31/2022 Common Stock 65,380 $ 0 0 D Stock Appreciation Rights (2014) $ 13.2 ( 2 ) 10/13/2017 M 68,600 ( 2 ) ( 10 ) 03/07/2015 12/31/2023 Common Stock 68,600 $ 0 0 D Stock Appreciation Rights (2015) $ 15.05 ( 2 ) 10/13/2017 M 68,600 ( 2 ) ( 10 ) 03/06/2016 12/31/2024 Common Stock 68,600 $ 0 0 D Stock Appreciation Rights (2016) $ 16.35 ( 2 ) 10/13/2017 M 68,600 ( 2 ) ( 10 ) 03/04/2017 12/31/2025 Common Stock 68,600 $ 0 0 D Stock Appreciation Rights (2017) $ 17.6 ( 2 ) 10/13/2017 M 34,400 ( 2 ) ( 10 ) 03/10/2018 12/31/2026 Common Stock 34,400 $ 0 0 D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other WARNKE KARL J 1500 NORTH MANTUA STREET KENT, OH44240 X Signatures /s/Karl J. Warnke/Christopher J. Bast, by Power of Attorney 10/17/2017 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )Shares surrendered in connection with the exercise of Non-Qualified Stock Option shares. ( 2 )All share totals and prices reflect a 2-for-1 stock split effective June 1, 2017. ( 3 )Exercise of SARs. ( 4 )Payment of taxes in connection with SARs pay-out. ( 5 )Payment of taxes related to PRSU and RSU distribution. ( 6 )Represents PRSU and RSUs. ( 7 )Distribution of PRSU and RSU shares. ( 8 )This total reflects routine accumulation of 97,726.4489 common shares acquired through the Company's 401(K) benefit plan as of October 13, 2017, based on internal records. ( 9 )These shares vested and became fully exercisable upon Mr. Warnke's retirement. ( 10 )Exercise of SARs which became fully vested upon Mr. Warnke's retirement.

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).

** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.