David George Kakavas

David Kakavas, 61, of Moline, IL, passed away at home on Friday, May 26, 2023.

Graveside service 2:30 pm, Friday, June 2, 2023, at Rock Island National Cemetery. Visitation prior to service from 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm at Wendt Funeral Home, Moline, IL.

Memorials may be made to the Military Veterans Project, P.O. Box 3926, Topeka, KS 66604.

David was a loving son, brother, father, uncle, grandfather, and friend. He was born on December 20, 1961, in Moline, IL, to John W. and Dorothy Annette (Roman) Kakavas. He married Rhonda Gardner.

David graduated from Moline High School, class of 1980.

He served in the U.S. Army from 1980 to 2002. He was a military man who served his country with honor, duty, and selfless service as an Airborne Infantryman (11C). SSG Kakavas was a graduate of the Jungle Operations Training Center at Fort Sherman, Panama, and a veteran who served with distinction during OPERATIONs DESERT STORM and GOTHIC SERPENT (Somalia, 1993), and ENDURING FREEDOM 2001-2002 where he most notably helped develop the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) used to improve operational security at Fort Benning, GA). He served as the epitome of the Infantry Drill Sergeant where he mentored, shaped, and molded countless young Infantrymen with all the tools they needed to be successful. After injuries caused him to hang up his campaign hat, he finished his Army career as the Battalion Operations Sergeant with 1/38 Infantry… Many awards & achievements were collected during his time in service, some of which include: the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Valorous Unit Award, National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal with 3 Bronze Service Star, Humanitarian Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army & Overseas Service Ribbon, Kuwait Liberation Medal, Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar, Combat Infantryman Badge, Drill Sergeant Identification Badge.

He was a softball coach at Peach Little League in Columbus, GA, a softball player, craftsman & carpenter, and a servant leader, always leading with his heart front and center.

David was simple and sentimental, known to pick up strays in life, animal or human, and do what he could to set their path straight and be a light in their darkness. He loved wolves as a spirit animal, complex & highly intelligent, caring, playful, and above all, devoted to family. Brave, strong, and a deep desire for freedom.

Family was the most important thing in the world to him.

Survivors include daughter Alyssa (Chance) Forehand, of Cape Coral, FL; son Christian (Schona) Byrd of Moline, IL; grandchildren Lynley, Carter, Brooklynn, Olivia, Liam, and Cassadee; sisters Amy Kakavas of Racine, WI, Kara Chaar of Burridge, IL, and Rebecca Kakavas-Ballard of Rock Island, IL; brothers Timothy Kakavas of North Liberty, IA, and Kristian Kakavas of Moline, IL; nephews & nieces, Jeremiah Frye, Zachary Frye, Joshua Frye, Daniel Kakavas, Mathew Kakavas, Kagan Kakavas, Emma Cooper, Ryan Cooper, Yasmina Chaar, Malik Chaar, and William Charr; great-nieces & nephews, Zoey Kakavas, Joseph Kakavas, Apryle Frye, Ava Frye, McKenna Frye, and Ezra Frye.

He was preceded in death by his father, John William Kakavas (2004), and mother, Dorothy Annette (Roman) Kakavas(2006).

Family and friends are invited to share memories and express condolences at wendtfuneralhome.com

A Daughter’s Salute

In Loving Memory of SSG David G. Kakavas

Good afternoon,

On behalf of my father, I’d like to thank each of you for taking the time, pausing the busyness in your own life, and doing so to come together to honor, remember, and recognize the amazing man and old grunt that he was.

This is usually the part where someone like me says “to know Dave was to love Dave” but my daddy raised me right, so I am not going to stand up here and lie to y’all.

To know my father was to know a man who was raw, real, and authentic – a man who stood up and stood out. A man who rose to challenges simply because he knew he could, and often with a wink and twinkle in his eye. He was a man who knew struggle, triumph, loss, and victory. He knew how to both toe the lines and how to color outside of them. I truly believe that his blood was red, white, and blue. He lived and breathed loyalty, duty, respect, selfless-service, honor, integrity, and personal courage. The Army values were etched into his heart and were evident in all areas of his life.

He served in the United States Army from 1980 to 2002. He was a military man who served his country with honor, duty, and selfless service as an Airborne Infantryman (11C). SSG Kakavas was a graduate of the Jungle Operations Training Center at Fort Sherman, Panama, and a veteran who served with distinction during OPERATIONs DESERT STORM, GOTHIC SERPENT, and ENDURING FREEDOM where he most notably helped develop the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) used to improve operational security at Fort Benning, GA. He served as the epitome of the Infantry Drill Sergeant where he mentored, shaped, and molded countless young Infantrymen with all the tools they needed to be successful. After injuries caused him to hang up his campaign hat, he finished his Army career as the Battalion Operations Sergeant with 1/38 Infantry.

Many awards & achievements were collected during his time in service, some of which include: the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Valorous Unit Award, National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal with 3 Bronze Service Star, Humanitarian Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army & Overseas Service Ribbon, Kuwait Liberation Medal, Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar, Combat Infantryman Badge, and Drill Sergeant Identification Badge.

My father understood the universal paradox that we all live with: we are free to choose but we are not free from the consequences of our choices.

And yet…

He still chose to do the hard things.

It is a statistical fact that less than 1% of Americans raise their right hand and make an oath to serve our country. I couldn’t find the exact number – but I am sure that even less than that do it more than once, like my daddy did.

He chose to marry my mom and become a father to two children who were not biologically his own– myself and my younger brother. He taught us many important lessons throughout our lives and is continuing to do so even now.