David J. Hawkins

David J. Hawkins, 80, of Cascade, Iowa, died Thursday, October 9, 2025 at St. Luke’s in Cedar Rapids, surrounded by his family.

Visitation for Dave will be held from 3 to 7 p.m., on Friday, October 17, 2025 at the Reiff Funeral Home in Cascade, Iowa.  Visitation will also be held after 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 18, 2025 at the Funeral Home.

Services for Dave will be held at 11:00 a.m. at the Cascade Presbyterian Church on Saturday, October 18, 2025 with Pastor Wayne Peach Presiding.  Burial will be held in the Cascade Community Cemetery in Cascade, Iowa with full Military Honors afforded by the Cascade American Legion Post #528.

Dave was born on January 7th, 1945, to Robert and Cleora Hawkins. He attended country school and then Monticello High School, graduating in 1962. After graduation, he attended the University of Dubuque until joining the Navy in August 1965. He served on the USS Grand Canyon, where he was a signalman. Dave remained proficient in morse code and semaphore until his death. After his military service, Dave finished college at the University of Dubuque, obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology in 1969. Dave returned to the family farm after graduating college. Dave and Marilyn (Biermann) were married in 1972 and lived in Farley for a short time before moving to the farm to raise their family. Dave retired from farming in 2003 and helped Marilyn open a restaurant and catering business in Cascade. Dave spent many years as a Sunday School teacher and elder at the Cascade Community Presbyterian Church. He was a member of the American Legion Post 528, served many leadership roles with the Dubuque County Farm Bureau, and was a member of the Cascade Community Cemetery Board.

Dave’s life was filled with jokes, pranks, and silliness. He brightened the lives of those around him. His laughter and lightheartedness were infectious. Dave’s favorite times were with family. He cherished every picnic, trip to see his grandchildren, every holiday, and summers with his children never wanting those precious moments to end - often going on one more last-minute adventure the day before school would start. Time with his children and grandchildren was filled with laughter and fun. From the greatest snow sledding jumps of all time, feats of strength in the dairy barn, huge rope swings, water fights, and towel snapping battles, he had a way to make any day more fun and a little less serious.  Dave was a kid at heart until his final days - his youthful soul wanting so badly to stay. His family will remember him as the best husband, dad, brother, and grandpa they could ever have – the true measure of a man.

Dave will be deeply missed by his wife Marilyn, sons Mike (Kim), Justin (Meghean), Eric (Tracy), and daughter Angie, seven amazing grandchildren: Sam, Logan, Cooper, Carter, Collin, Lily, and Keaton and his brother Rick (Marilyn) and sister Robin (Roy). In-laws Joanne Hawkins, Don and Janet, Leroy and Shirley, Kenny and Donna, Paul and Kathy, and Mark Biermann.

Dave is preceded in death by his parents Robert and Cleora, brother Charles, and foster sister Angie Sauser. Father and Mother-in-law, Raymond and Dorthy Biermann, brothers and sisters-in-law David and Doris, Robert and LaVonne Biermann.

A video tribute may be viewed online and online condolences left for the family at www.reifffuneralhomeinc.com