Dave "Wilk" Wilkerson

Dave “Wilk” Wilkerson, 68, of Exira, Iowa, died Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at Salem Lutheran Home in Elk Horn.

David Larry was born on May 18, 1957, at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, the son of James Larry and Jeanette Irene (Christensen) Wilkerson. He attended grade school in Linneus, Missouri, until the family moved to Exira, Iowa, in 1968. Dave remembered this as a rough transition because his previous school had varied drastically and he was way behind compared to his classmates. The family enjoyed trips to Pikes Peak and South Dakota before the death of James in 1972. Dave had to grow up overnight to help his mom care for his three younger siblings. A lot of time was spent going to work with mom, and then being put to work at the Viking Inn at the Valley.

His nickname “Wilk” got its start in high school. He was a star baseball player; his build giving him the power to hit the ball out of the park and to make amazing catches at first base. Dave graduated from Exira High School in the Class of 1975. Following graduation, he attended William Penn University seeking a degree in Geology but later returned to the area to go back to work at Henningsen Construction.

Dave started working at Henningsen Construction after high school and retired in June 2023, after 45+ years. He started out in the Concrete Division as a Laborer, later transitioning to Concrete Foreman and Civil Superintendent. When he moved to the Asphalt Division, he drove truck for one season and then became the Truck Driver Foreman. While on the road Dave enjoyed visits from his nieces and nephews. He will be remembered by his coworkers as a work horse who was very detail oriented and for being a mathematical genius when reading blueprints. In recalling his time on the job Dave recently shared with family that he was thankful for the relationships he built saying, “They were just boys when they came to the jobsite and I helped shape them into responsible young men and g**d**n good adults, they were like my sons.”

On March 6, 1986, he met Rhonda Petersen and the couple later married on December 10, 1988.

Dave loved motorcycles, and even though he didn’t have much time to ride he enjoyed tinkering on them. He also had numerous oddity cars (the crazier the better, including a Munsters mobile) through the years which he usually found while listening to trading posts on the radio. Dave cheered for the Green Bay Packers and won many March Madness pools at work.

He did have a soft side, a heart of gold! He loved his dog Chancey-Boy and even though he claimed to hate cats he sure did pick a lot of them up off the side of the road and bring them home to be cared for.

Once you met “Wilk” you never forgot him. Whether you remember his booming voice, outspoken nature, sense of humor, amazing mathematical mind or his brute strength, they all made him stand out in a crowd. Having a good time was right up his alley and if you got him going, he would slap the bar with “The Paw” and cause a domino effect to drinks down the length of the bar. He was one-of-a-kind and will never be forgotten!

Dave is survived by his wife of 37 years, Rhonda Wilkerson; sister, Sherri Wilkerson; brother, Jeff (Sheila) Wilkerson; sister-in-law, Toni (Kent) Schlater; brother-in-law, Rick (Deb) Petersen; many nieces, nephews and extended family; and his Henningsen’s family.

He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Christian and Esther Christensen and Boss and Ethel Wilkerson; parents, James and Jeanette Wilkerson; parents-in-law, Dallas and Nancy Munch; brother, Dean Wilkerson; and brothers-in-law, Ron Petersen and Dennis Petersen.

Open visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., Sunday, March 29th at Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic. The family may not be present but wanted to extend this time for others to pay their respects.

Private Graveside services, for family only, will be held at 1:00 p.m., Monday, March 30th at the Harlan Cemetery.

Roland Funeral Service is caring for David's family and his arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.