David H. Eilers

1951 - 2025

David H. Eilers

July 31, 1951 - January 14, 2025

David H Eilers age 73 of Gurnee, IL died Tuesday January 14.

Services are 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, January 29, 2025 at the McKown Funeral Home. Visitation is 9:30 a.m. until service time. Interment will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Roselawn Cemetery.

David Henry Eilers was born July 31, 1951 in Columbus, Nebraska to Henry and Mabel (Petersen) Eilers. He was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church. He graduated Columbus High School in 1969 and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Dave began his corporate career as a Product Planner with Ford Motor Tractor Operations in Troy, Michigan and then became a Product Planning Manager with GE Aircraft Engines in Cincinnati, Ohio. He concluded his career as Senior Director of Global Supply Sourcing with Pfizer at their offices in Skokie, Illinois.

Dave's life was filled with a unique set of adventures. As a boy, he built and launched rockets. He played keyboards with several local rock bands during high school and college. He spent six months doing research in Antarctica with the Ross Ice Shelf Project. Eilers Peak in Antarctica is named in his honor. Dave went skydiving, bungee jumping, and rode roller coasters enough times that he was eventually stuck upside down when one malfunctioned (he was rescued an hour later). Long before the road was paved, Dave rode his motorcycle to the top of Pike's Peak. He lived in England for a year working on a special project for Ford Tractor – and drove his right-hand drive company car on a two-week vacation through Europe. Dave became a Million Mile frequent flyer after more than two dozen flights to Moscow while negotiating a joint-venture pharmaceutical plant in Russia for Pfizer. London and Paris were his favorite vacation destinations in Europe.

But the greatest joy in Dave's life was riding motorcycles. He rode over 200,000 miles in 46 US states and was a 40-year member of the BMW Motorcyclists of America. He owned 9 motorcycles (7 of which are still in his garage). In addition to Pike's Peak, Dave rode the Million Dollar Highway in Colorado too many times to count, and navigated the 318 curves in 11 miles on the road known as the Tail of the Dragon.

If there were a "Best Son of the Year" award, Dave would have been a serious contender more than once. He frequently called and visited his parents (even though he never lived close by) and gave them thoughtful presents and vacation trips. More importantly, he gave them hands-on care during their final years.

After a difficult struggle with Parkinson's Disease and a fall that required extensive orthopedic surgery, Dave died on January 14 at a facility near his home in Gurnee, Illinois. He was preceded in death by his parents and cousins Dean Johnson and Jolaine Nielsen.

Dave is survived by his sister, LaVonne Tiaden of Blaine, MN; nephew, Kevin (Kathleen) Tiaden of Bloomington, MN; nephew, Ryan (Robyn) Tiaden of Arlington, VA; niece, Stephanie (Jason) Pacchiarotti of Irvine, CA; seven great-nieces and nephews; and cousins, Carolyn Petersen of Columbus, NE, Wayne Loseke of Columbus, NE, Glenda Kleinkauf of Eden, MN, Gail (Barb) Johnson of Lincoln, NE, and Regan (Martha) Eilers of Gardner, NV. Dave's quick wit, insightful analysis, and generosity also will be missed by numerous friends.

Memorials to honor Dave should be given to the National Motorcycle Safety Fund (nmsfund.org) or to the charity of your choice. Please respect Dave's wishes and do not send flowers.