Kevin Dovenbarger

Lincoln resident Kevin J. Dovenbarger, 47, died Monday, September 3, 2012 at his home after a courageous battle with cancer. Funeral service is 11:00am, Saturday, September 8, 2012 at First Lutheran Church, 1551 South 70th Street (70th and A St) with Pastor Aaron Erdley officiating. Visitation will be from 2:00pm to 8:00pm, Friday, September 7, 2012 at Lincoln Family Funeral Care, 5844 Fremont Street, and 1 hour before the service at the church. Memorials may be given to his family. Kevin was born May 18, 1965 in York, Nebraska, the son of Robert Darrell and Judith A. (Kerr) Dovenbarger. He grew up in York and Benedict area and graduated from York Community Education with the class of 1983. Kevin went on with his education receiving certifications in Adult and Elderly Care. Kevin lived in Seattle, WA and Long Beach, CA where he worked for a nonprofit, Being Alive and served on the National CDC Board. He moved back to Lincoln when his father passed to be closer to family. Kevin was a free spirit who enjoyed hiking, his eagle collection, woodworking, playing the drums and dancing. In his youth, Kevin enjoyed caring for and riding the family horses and his own colt he named Freedom. He loved horse 4H and York Saddle Club competitions. He and brothers always loved German Shepherds and in his adulthood the love his life was his German Shepherd Jessica who was a constant companion. Kevin is survived by mother Judy Dovenbarger of Lincoln; two brothers, Doug Dovenbarger and his wife Caroline of Knoxville, TN, and David Dovenbarger and his wife Tara of Farragut, TN; nieces and nephews, Bryce Dovenbarger and his wife Lisa, Erin Schmertz and husband Bill, Kelci Wood and husband Daniel, David Dovenbarger Jr., Daniel Dovenbarger, Laurelyn Dovenbarger, and Dianna Dovenbarger; step-nieces and nephews, Hannah Willson, Clara Grace Willson, and Quent Willson; great nieces and nephew, Lily, Logan, and Anberlyn; two uncles, Dale Dovenbarger and wife Merlene of Benedict, NE and Larry Kerr and wife Bonnie of Underwood, IA; Aunts Linda Strahm and husband Stan of Lincoln, Alice Dovenbarger of Lincoln, and Cathy Dovenbarger of Columbus, NE ; cousins, Keith and Sabrina Dovenbarger, Linda and Kevin Vondruska, Todd and Ronnette Dovenbarger, Bev and Mike Hewitt, Mike Dovenbarger, Brad and Angelita Dovenbarger, Lynette and Ed Wiltgen, Teresa and David Mace, Laura Kerr, Amy and Bryce Wendland and Arlon and Marci Strahm, special friends Gino Betti and Karen Hammond and other family and friends. He was preceded in death by his father Robert "Darrell" Dovenbarger; grandparents, Burdette and Grace Dovenbarger and Welby and Irene Kerr; nephew, Isaac; three uncles, Jim Kerr, Dean Dovenbarger, and Lyle Dovenbarger.