David John Henke, 77, of Rochester, died on Sunday, September 10, 2023 at the Mayo Clinic, Methodist Campus, after an extensive battle with liver cancer.

David was born July 27, 1946 in Rochester to John and Allene Henke. He attended grade school at Trinity Lutheran School in Rochester and was a graduate of John Marshall High School. After high school, David went on to proudly serve in the U.S. Marine Corps for 9 ½ years. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam, where he was injured and received a Purple Heart. After being Honorably discharged from the military, David worked in construction until 1983. He then started working for the U.S. Post Office for 24 ½ years, retiring in 2007.

David married Kathy on May 19, 1984 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Rochester. David and Kathy enjoyed time spent at their unique vacation home they built on Lake Shetek, near Currie in Southwest, MN. They also enjoyed trips taken to Switzerland and a rail trip to the Canadian Rockies. David loved muscle cars, polar bears, his beloved dogs, and watching old Hopalong Cassidy westerns.

David is survived by his loving wife of 39 years, Kathy of Rochester; aunt, Corinne Liebenow of Elgin, MN; 21 first cousins and his best friend, Charlie Kreter. David was preceded in death by his parents and by his brother, William.

A funeral service will be held  11:00 A.M. Monday, September 18, 2023 at the River Park Chapel, at Macken Funeral Home, 1105 12 ^th St. SE, Rochester, MN. Visitation will be held from 10:00 A.M. until time of the service. The Rev. Nathaniel Schwartz will be officiating with burial at Grandview Memorial Gardens. Memorials are preferred to Paws and Claws, The Salvation Army or to the St. Joseph's Indian school in Chamberlain, SD.