David Darwin Hartke

David passed away at the age of 80 at an adult family home in Everett, WA. He went into the hospital in February for pneumonia and other complications and never returned back home. He had throat and tongue cancer years ago that required surgical resection and radiation. The damage left from the surgery and radiation would later make it difficult for him to swallow safely. He transitioned to a modified diet then eventually started tube feeding in 2023. He was able to do this at home and did well living independently with only the occasional stay in the hospital for pneumonia until February 2025 when his medical conditions became too difficult to control. He spent months at a few different hospitals and a month in rehab before finally being discharged to an adult family home where he passed on August 1st.

Throughout his hospitalization he insisted he wanted to keep fighting and never gave up. He wanted to be able to get better so he could spend at least a few more months visiting with family and spending time with his animals waiting for him at home; his cats Neko and Shadow and his dog Snoopy. He was mentally sound and was disappointed that his body was failing him before he was ready.

David was born on December 23rd, 1944 to Darwin and Viola Hartke in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He had 2 younger brothers Gary Hartke and Eugene Hartke. He attended school in Minneapolis and graduated from South High School in 1962. He then went to the University of Minnesota for 2 years. He was in the Air force R.O.T.C. He entered the Army in February 1964 at 18 years old and did 3 years of service.

He went through boot camp at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He then went to Military Police school at Fort Gordon, Georgia where he successfully completed his Advanced Individual Military Police Training July 31st, 1964. He received training in military law, traffic control, map reading, prisoner of war control and self defense among other things. After completing his M.P. training, he went to Paratrooper training at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was then stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina with the 82nd Airborne Division.

In May of 1965, the 82nd Airborne Division was deployed to the Dominican Republic which had been taken over by Castro backed rebels. Then 82nd along with the 1st Marines took back the island by September of that year. While fighting in the D.R. he briefly fought with the infantry where he was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge. In the D.R. he served as an M.P. and was usually guarding their base camp or watching over prisoners of war.

In December 1965, he received orders to go to Vietnam. He was ordered to the 101st Airborne Division but after arrival the army saw that he had been an M.P. and they needed M.P.'s more than infantrymen. He transferred to the 25th Infantry Division at Cu Chi Vietnam where he served as an M.P. until the end of 1966. As an M.P. in Vietnam he spent his time guarding their base camp and sometimes as Machine Gunner during their convoy trips from base camp in Cu Chi to Saigon, Vietnam.

He was honorably discharge from the Army in December 1966. During his service he earned his Parachute Badge, Sharpshooter (Rifle M-16), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Dominican Republic), Combat Infantryman's Badge, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and one Overseas Service Bar.

After returning home he completed his education at the University of Minnesota and graduated in 1969 with his Bachelor of Arts Degree. During college he met Rita (Newman) Berman through a cousin of his on Valentine's Day 1967. They had 2 children together. Mark was born in March 1968 and Michele was born in September 1969. They Separated and David moved to Seattle, WA that year where he worked for the State of Washington.

While living in Seattle, WA he met and married Ladonna Van Slyke in 1971. With David's work for the State of Washington and with the National Parks Department, he often changed job positions and he and his growing family would move all over the state with some time spent in Henderson, NV. After he moved to Washington, he lived in Seattle, Tumwater, Olympia, Lacey, Stehekin, Chelan, Henderson, NV, Kennewick, Seattle, Chelan, Wenatchee, then finally settling in Lacey, WA.

After he and Ladonna separated, he moved to Wenatchee and later met Rosemary Soriano through a mutual work friend. David and Rosemary were married in July 1993 in Lacey, WA.

David was a father to 2 children in Minnesota who he stayed in touch with over the years, he had 9 children with Ladonna plus cared for Kimberly Van Slyke (Ladonna's Eldest daughter), and he had 2 step children from his marriage to Rosemary he cared for as well. So with 14 children, some not blood related, he loved and cared about them all. He devoted his time to spend with them. He went to many school activities and often drove them to sports practice or across the state for games and other functions. I know any one of us could count on him to be there if we needed him. He was supportive of all his kids and wanted us to succeed in life.

In his youth he liked to go hunting, he went camping and traveled. He liked going to the movies and watching The History Channel. After his retirement in 2016, he spent most of his time puzzling. He became known as "The Puzzler" and went through many puzzles a year until it became too painful for him to stand for a long period of time.

David is preceded in death by his parents, his eldest son Mark, and his wife Rosemary Hartke. He is survived by his brothers Gary and Eugene Hartke, and his children Michele Walker, Dina Hartke, Eric Hartke, Daniel Hartke, Joelle Hartke, Joshua Hartke, Rachael Perri, Caleb Hartke, David A. Hartke, Ladonna D. Hartke, Barry White and Misty Carter; as well as 15 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

He will be truly missed.