A Celebration of Life for 65-year old David “Dutch” Donker will be held Sunday, May 26, 2024 at the Alliance Eagles Club in Alliance, NE. The doors will open at 6:00 p.m. with the celebration starting at 7:00 p.m.
A passionate motorcycle rider his entire adult life, David’s last ride will be on Monday, May 27, departing from the Eagles Club and with “clutches out” at 9:00 am. Anyone wanting to meet up with the ride can do so at 11:30 at the Corner Pantry Travel Center in Hermosa, SD.
Memorials may be made to the family at 1003 Big Horn Ave, Alliance, NE. A tree will be planted in his memory; any additional funds will be donated to cancer research at Kansas State University.
Online condolences may be left at batesgould.com.
David Donker – more commonly known as “Dutch” to his family and friends – was born Sept 21, 1958 in Gregory, SD, the 3rd of 4 children, to Albert “Rusty” and Grace (Luurs) Donker. He was in a hurry to enter this world, arriving before his folks got to the hospital. David left this world on April 16, 2024, in the comfort of his own home and with his family at his side, after a brief but very intense battle with esophageal/gastric cancer.
When David was very young, the family moved from the Gregory area to Hot Springs, SD, and then to Chadron, Ne. All of his schooling took place in Chadron and he graduated from Chadron High School in 1978. He continued his education at WNCC in Sidney, earning a certificate in Heavy Equipment and Diesel repair in 1979.
Between 1979 and 1983, David worked various jobs, including with his dad at the Culligan store in Chadron, but in Dec 1983. he hired on at what is now known as Parker Hannifin. With the exception of a brief layoff, he worked there for 40 years, most of that in Maintenance.
During the layoff, he sought employment at Nebraska Beef Packers in Gordon, NE, where he met Karen Reinmuth. They were reintroduced by a mutual friend a few months later and started a relationship in Sept 1984 that would continue until his passing.
David and Karen were married June 3, 1988, in Alliance and to this union were born four children: Miranda Rose, Zachariah James, Arielle Marie and Emily Kate. He was also grandpa to 5 and took great pride in his family, bragging on them every chance he had.
Dutch was a patch holding member of ROAD M/C since 1980, and a member of the Sandhills Chapter. Those in the club were also his family. He was very active in all aspects of the club and enjoyed time riding with his brothers above all. He was a previous member of ABATE of Nebraska, District 13.
He had a passion for hunting and firearms, and developed an additional passion for black powder shooting and Rendezvous, which led to being a member of the Bordeaux Creek Muzzleloaders for years, as well as Camp Clark Raiders.
Dutch enjoyed many deer camps with his brother Jerry “Red,” his wife, and multiple other friends, and was an active participant in many local and regional Rendezvous camps with his family.
As a youth, he was a member of a Boy Scout troop in Chadron, earning the rank of Life Scout. Later, with his own son, he was an active parent in scouting and was Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 344, participating in many local campouts, winter camps, tree plants, and summer camps, and mentoring youth as they earned their rank of Eagle Scout.
Dutch took many trips on the motorcycle with his wife and his brothers, in addition to many solo trips. He attended the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally annually and didn’t miss one for over 40 years. He even spent some time working at the Eagles Landing during the rally. The stories he could tell and the people he met doing this!
But his most memorable trip was the 2nd trip to the “Run to the Wall” rally in Washington DC when his son accompanied him.
Dutche received treatment for his cancer through Kansas State University, and stayed with his oldest daughter, Miranda, in Warrensburg, MO., returning home to Alliance just days before leaving this earthly world.
David is survived by his wife Karen, daughters: Miranda Williams of Warrensburg, Mo, Arielle Donker of Rapid City, SD, and Emily (Robert “TJ”) Lynn of Pagosa Springs, Co.; son Zachariah (Dessaray) Donker of Alliance; grandchildren Isabell, Ryker and Faye Donker of Alliance, Briley Williams of Warrensburg, and Colvynn Brown of Rapid City, SD; brother Steve (Dani) Donker of Cheyenne, Wyo; sister Nancy (Gary) Eitler of Gordon, NE; sister-in-law Teala Donker of Chadron; numerous nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, and cousins; as well as countless friends and his brothers of ROAD M/C.
David was preceded in death by his parents Rusty and Grace; his oldest brother Jerry; his father-in-law Dale Reinmuth; and all his grandparents.
Life is a journey, not a destination. His journey gave his life meaning and created numerous experiences and memories that included his family, his brothers and his friends.
Bates Gould Funeral Home in Alliance is in charge of arrangements for David “Dutch” Donker.