David J. Hurkman, age 74 of Florida & Wisconsin, passed away peacefully at home on August 30, 2025, surrounded by his wife and son, after a long and courageous battle with health issues. He always overcame the challenges presented to him until an aggressive cancer in June was deemed incurable. He fought hard but never gave up. He was always hopeful.
He was born October 27, 1950 at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Millington, TN. Dave was a graduate of Williams Bay High School, class of 1968. He went on to Kenosha Technical Institute to study automotive technology. He worked at Waling & Cutting in Delavan, then for Inland Marine and Gage Marine. Dave always said that working on boats was much cleaner than working on cars!
He later worked for the Village of Williams Bay and City of Lake Geneva as a wastewater treatment operator. What he enjoyed most was making things from either wood or metal. This led him to become a business owner as a machinist. He did work for The Getzen Company, Allied Supply, Strege-Wuttke, Badger State Repair and Wag-Aero.
Dave met Susan Lehmann on a blind date in 1970 and they married on August 4, 1973 at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church. They had 1 son, Eric of Lake Geneva.
Dave's love for motorcycles became apparent when at the age of 15, he put an engine on a bicycle. When he got his driver’s license, he bought his dad’s ’62 Harley Davidson. Later on he taught Sue how to ride it. After owning several motorcycles, they enjoyed many trips but the best trip was to the Blue Ridge Parkway and Smokey Mountains ending up in Georgia at the 2 Wheel Only Resort. He and Sue also enjoyed fishing, gardening, camping, going to arboretums and sitting by the water on Geneva Lake.
Dave was a member of St. Andrew Catholic Church and St. Croix Railroad in Hudson, WI. He enjoyed watching the Packers. “Learning to Fly” and “Shout”by Tom Petty were 2 of his favorite songs. Once retired, he and Sue spent their winters in Florida.
Dave is survived by his siblings Bill, Margaret (Dennis), Mark (Jane) and Alexis (Kaylynn), sister-in-law Joyce, brother-in-law Richard, Ken and Vic; many nephews, nieces, great nephews, great nieces and cousins. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, parents William J. and Marian Meyer Hurkman, aunts, uncles and sister-in-law, Jane Lehmann.
Special thanks go to St. Croix Hospice especially Kelsey, Rachel & Christine and Visiting Angels especially Elianna, James and Millie for the wonderful compassionate care shown to Dave.
A Celebration of Life will be held in Wisconsin during the spring of 2026 for family and friends.
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