Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
About
FUNERAL HOME
David Tilgner Obituary
David grew up in Bennington, attended the Pine Cobble School in Williamstown, Massachusetts, and graduated in 1980 as valedictorian from Mount Anthony Union High School where he was active in soccer and tennis. He continued his education at Princeton University, graduating cum laude in 1984 with a BSE in civil engineering.
David began his career in manufacturing management at Clairol where he was employed from 1984 – 1988. He then worked for The Coffee Connection and later, Starbucks in Boston in plant management. Returning to Vermont in 1996, David spent the next 20 years with Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (now Keurig Green Mountain) in a variety of management positions, most recently, vice president of portion pack manufacturing.
David loved spending time with his family and friends. He enjoyed many outdoor activities, including hiking, skiing, golf and tennis. He enjoyed playing recreational ice hockey during the winter at Stowe Arena. David especially enjoyed going to his kids' activities; he loved supporting Alex and Kate on the sidelines and in the rink. He particularly enjoyed his camps at Joe's Pond in Danville where he could be found water skiing, relaxing on the dock with friends and family or driving the boat for Alex, Kate and their friends, and at the Northwoods Club in Minerva, New York, where he liked to fish, hike, swim, cook out and meet friends for an annual hunting trip.
David is survived by his wife, Lori Tilgner, of Stowe; their children, Alex D. Tilgner and Kate C. Tilgner, both at home in Stowe; his father, Charles Tilgner III and his wife, Elisabeth, of Exeter, New Hampshire; his brother, Charles "Chips" Tilgner and wife, Dina, of Omaha, Nebraska; his in-laws, as well as aunts, nieces, nephews and extended family. David's mother, Linda Tilgner, passed away on May 18, 1989.
A service celebrating the life of David Tilgner will be held at the Stowe Community Church on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2017, at 11 a.m. Interment will follow in Stowe's Riverbank Cemetery. A reception will follow.
It was David's request that, in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts could be made in his memory to the Stowe Free Library, 90 Pond St., Stowe, VT 05672; the Stowe Youth Hockey Association, P.O. Box 504, Stowe, VT 05672; or to the Lamoille Area Cancer Network, 198 Farr Ave., Morrisville, VT 05661.
Assisting the family is the Perkins-Parker Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Waterbury. To send online condolences, please visit www.perkinsparker.com or the funeral home Facebook page.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for David Tilgner
Mike Olsen
August 16, 2025
Miss you Dave.
Michele McShane Garcia
August 26, 2017
I was terribly saddened to hear of David's passing. We were in high school together at MAUHS and I will forever remember his intellegence, graciousness and genuine smile. My sincere condolences to you, your children and the entire Tilgner Family.
Jennifer Cross
August 22, 2017
My heart goes out to the family and friends for such a wonderful man. May his memory and legacy live on with those he loved and helped. And may he rest in peace.
Peter Emery
August 21, 2017
This took me by surprise when I heard he passed away. I remember Dave back at Pine Cobble. Once he help me out in a situation I was in. He was a really good person and classmate. My condolence to his friends and family.
Godspeed David
Carlos Herrera
August 14, 2017
Dave always had a smile on his face, a friend and a co-worker at Clairol whom I will always remember. My prayers are with Dave as well as all his family members. May he rest in peace.
Gary DeBona
August 14, 2017
I'm deeply saddened to hear of Dave's passing. We were good friends. Many good conversations in and outside of work at Clairol. I enjoyed his friendship immensely. My prayers are with him and his family during this time.
Gary Sundstrom
August 14, 2017
Words can not express how deeply Dave's passing is to felt to myself and the GMCR community. He was an inspirational friend and leader at our company. Dave always had a smile and great advice for any and all people that he encountered. His energy and passion was felt in everything he did in life. My deepest condolences to his family.
Roger DuHamel
August 14, 2017
My heart goes out to the wide circle of family and friends. Dave was a great mentor who was always understanding, compassionate and helpful will be missed. The world is a better place because of him. Prayers for him and his family as the loss hurts but the memories will live on.
Phil Bushell
August 12, 2017
So sorry for your loss, Dave was a great friend, mentor, leader. I will miss him dearly. R.I.P. my friend,
Laura Siegel
August 12, 2017
Lori,
I wanted to express my condolences. I just found out what happened. Hugs!!
Osvaldo Nieves
August 11, 2017
My condolences to Dave's family and friends. I worked with Dave at Clairol and found him to be a kind and caring person. May he rest in peace.
Tom Ferguson
August 10, 2017
Dave will always be remembered as a wonderful professional partner and a better person. He was so helpful to me when I came to GMCR and he is one of the primary reasons for the company's success. Our prayers are with Dave and his family.
August 10, 2017
Memory eternal!
Raymond Lambert
August 10, 2017
My condolences to David's family and friends.
Aimee Green
August 9, 2017
My deepest condolences for Lori and children, for the entire Tilgner family. Dave was a genuinely kind and gentle man who will be sorely missed in his community. My heart goes out to you as you mourn and remember.
Stacy Coon-Charbonneau
August 9, 2017
There are no words that I can write to fully express my sadness to Lori, and all of David's family and friends at this time. My heart is heavy for all of you. I hope that prayers and well-wishes can help you heal. Much love, Stacy.
Leslie Whitaker
August 9, 2017
Lori, Alex, and Kate - I'm so sad to learn of Dave's passing. My thoughts are with all of you. Sending extra love your way and wishing you peace.
Mike Olsen
August 9, 2017
I'm so very sorry for your loss Lori, Alex, Kate, Chuck, Lisa, Chips and Dina. Dave has been a mentor, a counselor, my best friend, my teammate, my big brother(with all its trappings... :0) at varied times throughout our lives. He always, without fail got in touch with me on my birthday. I've read the comments by his colleagues and have a friend who worked with Dave closely. Anecdotally and from personal experience, I know Dave was an extraordinary leader from whom all around him learned and gained true inspiration. He brought joy and life to all who came in contact with him. Yes, I will dearly miss him but will always remember that some of the most meaningful and memorable times of my life were spent with Dave. Demetrius and Lysander, the Tubs, John James, LTP, the orange Beetle, France, 4 wheeling at the Beals, trips to Jay, my one and only "P"rade at Mr. T's 25th, telling me to save at least 10% of everything I made, riding my bike to his house where we'd meet and ride together to go play tennis for hours on end, member guest tournaments, driving a Duster way to fast (neither of us were driving) to pre-season tennis practice in Lennox, Stereo Theater.... the list goes on and on. Dave was beloved and will be missed but the memories will be treasured.
Todd & Kimberly Jones
August 9, 2017
Our thoughts and prayers go out Lori, Alex and Kate. Dave was an amazing person with a very bright smile. We have such great memories of him while working at GMCR! His positive, can do demeanor was something we both admired. We have very fond memories to reflect on and for this we are grateful.
Derek Cohen
August 9, 2017
My condolences to the Tilgner family. Went to high school with Dave, and will remember our summer weekends water skiing on Lake Champlain, having much fun at "The Mill" and just hanging out on the porch at the Beal Camp, and of course the ski trips. Dave will be remembered as a good guy and as a loving husband and father. A loss for us all.
Don Holly
August 9, 2017
A great man has left
His Honor a guiding light
Forever so bright
Tricia Bell
August 9, 2017
Sending my condolences, and these reflections, to Dave's family and many friends. For me Dave was a valued colleague at Green Mountain for many years, and my direct boss for almost a year when he worked here in Knoxville. He was very productive and effective in business, while at the same time exhibiting great patience, extraordinary listening skills, and a very real human-ness that is very uncommon in our fast-paced world of work. What a great model of leadership for me, and I am sure many others, to follow! I will not forget him.
Betty Newsam Wring
August 9, 2017
Lori - I am heartbroken at the news of Dave's passing. You and I met only once, I think, but I knew him at Princeton and at Clairol.. After that, I only saw him at Reunions. I don't have to tell you that he was the best of men.. I am so very sorry for your loss. Warmest regards...
Whip Burks
August 9, 2017
My deepest condolences to the entire Tilgner family. Dave was the perfect gentleman and kind soul. He was fierce competitor on the CCVT golf course and will always remember playing with him and Alex with my son. And of course our ties with Princeton. A great void will be felt for a long time.
Jennifer Wilder
August 9, 2017
Sending prayers and my thoughts to the entire Tilgner family.
Derek Companion
August 9, 2017
My condolences to Dave's family. I worked closely on many projects with Dave over several years at GMCR. Dave had such an amazing outlook on work and life. There are many work and life lessons I learned from Dave during my time spent with him that I will continue to use in my life every day.
My thoughts and prayers are with Dave's family at this difficult time.
Cindy Ploof
August 9, 2017
Lori my heart breaks for you and your children and the loss you have faced. I pray that God provides you strength and carries you thru this time. Please know you are in our thoughts.
There are few people who cross our paths during our journey thru life that make a lasting impression on us. Dave was one of those people. From his warm smile, to his calm energy, you knew the second you met him he was a special person.
Genuine, honest, caring, kind and hard working. He will be missed and never forgotten by so many. I am grateful our paths crossed during our time together at Green Mountain Coffee Roasters.
May you find comfort in knowing so many people admired the man that you were so lucky to call your husband
Steve Dodge
August 9, 2017
My deepest condolences to the entire Tilgner family. Dave will be remembered as a kind, caring and wonderful man who made the world around him a better place. He will be missed.
Nicole Samson O'Leary
August 9, 2017
So sorry for your loss. Sending you thoughts and prayers in this difficult time.
Zoe Bedell
August 9, 2017
Lori I am so sorry. I wish there was anything I could say or do to help other than to state the that you and your family have always been amazing. Dave always had a positive word and made time to say hi, and was as giving as he was kind.
Laurie Marrs
August 9, 2017
I am so saddened to hear of Dave's passing. I am Dan Marrs' sister, and was good friends with Chips in high school. Dan has shared Dave's courageous battle with me and my prayer is that he is now at rest. I know he will be greatly missed.
August 9, 2017
LORI, ALEX AND KATE,
I WAS SO TOUCHED BY ALL OF YOU AND DAVE. HE WAS A GENTLE AND VERY SWEET MAN. HE LOVED HIS WIFE LORI DEARLY AND HIS CHILDREN WERE EVERYTHING TO HIM I WAS BLESSED TO HAVE MEET ALL OF YOU
AND YOUR FAMILY. I WILL MISS DAVE'S GREAT SMILE. TAKE CARE LORI AND KIDS AND BEST WISHES FOR ALL. HUG TO CLOE FOR ME .
JUDY MCGONIS
Michelle LaBelle-Goodbred
August 8, 2017
My heartfelt condolences to Dave's family. I will always remember his smile and gentle soul. RIP Dave. Heaven gained another wonderful angel.
Michelle LaBelle-Goodbed
GMCR 2008-2011
August 8, 2017
Dave will be remembered as a wonderful person. He was a loving husband and father, a true friend and salt of the earth. One of those guys that everyone wanted to be around, and be like. I've just smiled thinking about the ski trips and golf outings in VT. Oh, how you will be missed. My deepest sympathies to his loving family and many friends.
~ Gregg Martin (MAUHS '81)
Jeanann Haskin
August 8, 2017
Lori, Alex and Kate,
My heart and prayers go out to you and your family. I frequently ran into Dave and work (GMCR). When I think of him I will always remember his kind and gentle nature and warm smile. He was an amazing man and will truly be missed.
August 8, 2017
My condolences to Dave's family and friends. I'm very sorry to hear of his passing.
Michelle Livingstone
GMCR 1997-2007
Andrew Palmer
August 8, 2017
I went to HS with Dave and we were on the same soccer team. He was our valedictorian and a super guy,,,always smiling,,,witty,, easy to talk to...
Jeannine Drake-Simpkins
August 8, 2017
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Dave was an amazing man. I worked with him in one way or another over the past 15 years. His smile always brightened any room he was in.
My condolences to you, your children and the rest of the family.
Kathy Usle
August 8, 2017
Dave, you were an amazing person. When I think of my best years at GMCR I will always think of you! You never once got mad or impatient when we had to call you at 3:00AM in the morning to fix our invoices for us. You taught me so much! You will be missed. Lori and Family, I am truly sorry for your loss.
Abbey Douglas
August 8, 2017
Lori, Alex & Kate -
I'm so sorry to hear about about Dave's passing. He was always so nice & a pleasure to work with at GMCR. My thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time.
Showing 1 - 40 of 40 results
Make a Donation
in David Tilgner's name
Memorial Events
for David Tilgner
Funeral services provided by:
Perkins-Parker Funeral Home Cremation Services - Waterbury48 South Main Street Waterbury Village Historic District, Waterbury, VT 05676
How to support David's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
How to Cope With Grief
Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you.
Read more
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read moreWays to honor David Tilgner's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
