Dwayne G. Kivekas of Dorr died Monday, July 16. He was 64.

He was born in Escanaba, June 10, 1954, and graduated from Rock High School in 1972.

Dwayne worked at the Co-Op garage and K&K Mfg. Co. for several years. He then moved to Grand Rapids in the late ’70s, where he met Traci Stark and married on Sept. 16, 1989. They have resided in Dorr for more than 20 years. Dwayne attended ITT Technical Institute and worked for Smith Industries and Sears before owning his own business, Paragon Painting. After 20 years, he retired.

Dwayne and his wife were avid golfers and loved to bowl. Everyone said if it wasn’t raining, they were golfing. Other things he loved to do were spending time with his daughter, Brooke, her friend, Mike VanHill and his grandsons Gavin and Ethan. He also enjoyed gardening, making cabinets and cupboards, boating, hunting, fishing and snowmobiling.

Dwayne is survived by his wife of 28 years, Traci; parents, Marvin and Delores Kivekas; daughter, Brooke; grandsons, Gavin and Ethan; sisters, Dianne (Dennis) Hettinger and Julie (Loren) Whipple and their children, Michelle (Chris) Lennon, Kristen (Tom) Owens and Nathan Whipple; mother-and-father-in-law, Gordon Stark and Mary Nesbitt and Arlene and Gordon Newell; brother-in-law, Steven (Jacqueline) Stark and many extended family members.

Dwayne was preceded in death by his son, Ian, in 1998 and both sets of his grandparents.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 20, at Kubiak-Cook Funeral Home – Dorr Chapel, 4330 18th Ave. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 21, at Kubiak-Cook Funeral Home – Dorr Chapel with visitation one-hour prior.

Due to road construction, guests are asked to approach the funeral home going northbound on 18th Avenue.

Post your comment

Discover more from

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading