David Kendall Thurston

David Kendall Thurston, born February 23, 1939, in Santa Rosa, California, passed away on July 15, 2026, in Harlan, lowa. Dave grew up in the Bay Area in Northern California before joining the Merchant Marines after high school. He served during the Vietnam War before returning to Sacramento, CA. Dave and his wife Judy moved to Kimballton, lowa from Sacramento in 2011, to spend their retirement closer to their kids living here.

Over the years, Dave loved vacationing in Mexico and Lake Tahoe, but his favorite vacation by far was going to Hawaii. He enjoyed catching games on TV for the SF Giants baseball and 49ers football (he barely put up with Judy's love for the KC Chiefs). Everyone knew Dave was an avid reader and patron of the Elk Horn Library, devouring many volumes of Cussler, Grisham, and Evanovich on a weekly basis, especially after becoming a resident at Salem Lutheran two years ago. He also made sure to make his Thursday card game at the library until they ran out of players, but still could count cards, even playing double deck pinnacle up until the end.

Those preceding him in death were his wife Judy Thurston; his parents Ken and Gudie Thurston of Chula Vista, CA; his brother-in-law Lee Wilke of Rochester, WA; his previous wife Maryn Thurston, North Highlands, CA; and his sisters-in-law Joanne (Dave) Agee, Sacramento, CA, Jan (George) White, Rio Linda, CA, and brother-in-law Roy Sorenson, Carmichael, CA.

Dave leaves behind his sister Sharlene Wilke, University Park, WA; children Diane (David Thompson, Kimballton, IA, and Doug (Cindy) Thurston, Elk Horn, IA; his grandchildren Jodee (Arron) Dixon, Elk Horn, IA, Jared (Brittany) Thompson, Carmichael, CA, Tiffany (Randy) Halvorson, Grand Forks, ND, and Brandon (Patryce) Thurston, Citrus Heights, CA; great-grandchildren: Sky, Jaded, Cameron, Tyde, Benjamin, Emagin, Abigail, Ivy and Brooks; his sister-in-law Jeanne Sorenson, Carmichael, CA; and all of the nieces and nephews back in California, Washington, and Hawaii.

A graveside service for the family will be held at a time to be determined. Please consider making a donation to the Elk Horn Library in lieu of memorials or flowers. Pauley Jones Funeral Home of Harlan, IA is handling the arrangements.