David J. Doerr, 75, passed away on October 3, 2026, after a one month battle with melanoma.

Dave was born on June 23, 1951, in Dubuque. His parents were Merlin and Barbara (Huber) Doerr. He was the older brother of Dan and Doug. Dave attended Bryant, Washington and Senior High School.

In 1969, Dave met Donna Pfab when they were teenagers. They made it official in 2006 when they were married in Vegas. They have 2 sons, Jason and Steve. Dave also has a daughter Rachael.

Dave was mechanically inclined at an early age. He took everything apart as a child but didn’t necessarily get it put back together.

Dave worked as a mechanic at Bird Chevrolet and Metz Baking Company until he retired. When he retired, he continued repairing cars, motorcycles, and doing rebuilders.

Later in life, he became the neighborhood grass cutter, spending hours on his riding mowers. He would tell us he had mowed all the way to St. Donatus. Dave and brother Dan were together all the time even if they just sat and watched the deer, turkeys, hummingbirds and whatever else showed up in Dan’s backyard. They took good care of each other.

Dave also loved hunting and fishing. For 25 years, he bow-hunted elk in Colorado with some of his best buddies: his brother Dan, Mike Strader, Steve Saul, Mike Pregler, and Ron Post. He hunted deer every year and was also known to shoot a turkey or two.

He had the “magic touch” when it came to crappie fishing. His favorite place to fish was at Leisure Lake where he and his brother had a cabin.

Dave is survived by his wife, Donna; his sons, Jason and Steve; his daughter, Rachael; his grandchildren, Madysin, Jaydon, Alex, Jaxson, Maddox, and Braxton; his brother, Dan (Kris) Doerr, and their children, Brenda, Natasha, and Nate (Amy); his aunt Sally; many nieces and nephews; many cousins and in-laws Greg and Dollie Kohnen and Joe and Lisa Pfab.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Doug; his daughter, Alicia; his grandparents; his aunts and uncles, Sharon and Don Progar, Carol and Jr. Brimeyer, Lou and Dwayne Marshall, Bob and Helen Doerr, Ed Doerr, and Ron and Cam Doerr; his cousins, Jill Doerr and Annette Progar; and his in-laws, Pat Pfab and Sally Demuth.

Thank you to Dan for taking care of Dave and all of us during this time, Dr. Morgan-lhrig for giving us a glint of hope, and also nurses Tara and especially Jenny for being who you are. Thank you, Dr. Nachtman, for being there for Dave. Thanks to Hospice of Dubuque for being so kind and helpful. And a special thanks to our sons, Jason and Steve.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road, is assisting the family.