Walter James Dean O’Rourke, 36, of Sturgis, SD, took his final ride on Friday, December 8, 2023.
Walter “JD” O’Rourke was born February 14th, 1987 in Rapid City, South Dakota to Rick and Tracy O’Rourke. He grew up in the Black Hills of South Dakota and graduated from Sturgis Brown High School in May of 2005. Walter went on to study to be an HVAC technician at Southeast Technical College in Sioux Falls, SD, graduating in May 2010. He returned to the Black Hills to work various other jobs before he found his career at CBH Co-Op in Sturgis in April of 2018.
Walter “JD” lived life to the fullest, enjoying many hobbies and activities like ripping through Vanocker Canyon on his pride and joy, Pearl; going hunting with his Dad, and rebuilding his 1967 Chevy pickup. He also kept busy:
* Remodeling his house
* Being part of the Militiamen group
* Working out at the CrossFit gym
* Helping anyone with anything they needed and
* Helping at friends and family’s brandings
Walter touched so many lives and was loved by so many people.
He was preceded in death by grandmother Alice Grooms, and grandparents James and Melba Fetter.
Grateful for having Walter “JD” in their lives are his mother, Tracy O’Rourke; father and step-mother, Rick & Kim O’Rourke; siblings, Rikki (Mike) Jacobson, Ashley Downing (Chris Jenkins), Brittney (Garrett) Brunmaier, Daphne Filbert, and Alex Eisenbraun (Taylor Lewis); grandmother, Darlene Stido; many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and the countless friends that Walter considered family.
Visitation will be Friday, December 15, 2023, 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, December 16, 10:00 a.m., at the Buffalo Chip, Sturgis, SD.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Mission 22 Project in Walter’s name at https://mission22.com/give.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.kinkadefunerals.com.
