David Tinker’s passing was sudden and has been devastating to his family, friends, students, colleagues, and community. He had a larger than life energy and a genuine compassion and enthusiasm for life, his family, his community, wildlife and nature. This is a profound loss that words can’t fully capture. Along with the heartbreak and shock she is experiencing right now, my sister, Holly, is now facing the reality of moving forward without him or the safety net of life insurance. It was something they spoke about the need for only a few weeks ago. This fund is meant to ease some of the current weight she is under: to help cover funeral expenses, household needs, and allow her to grieve without the immediate pressure of figuring out how exactly she will move forward financially.

The amount of work that goes into maintaining their life and homestead they built together is never ending, from the sheep, geese, chickens, dogs, and of course whatever rescued birds they are currently rehabilitating. But they have always tackled it as a family. There will be a huge adjustment period as she and our family try to fill the enormous void of his presence just when it comes to the day to day tasks and especially the immediate financial impact.

If anyone can rise to the occasion and do hard things, it is Holly and their children. Holly has always been one to take on challenges and hard work has never swayed her. They have raised two of the most centered, kind and wonderful humans in Jeremiah and Josie. But the adjustment to Dave not being here and what that means for their future will take time to figure out.

Dave joyfully gave so much of himself to this community and the outpouring of love and support his family has already received is extremely heartening and appreciated. If you are one of the many people whose life was influenced in some way by Dave and the Tinker family, I’d like to ask you to please consider helping ease their burden at this time. We know times are hard for many, and any support whether donations, prayers, or sharing this page would mean the world to Holly, Jeremiah, and Josie.

Thank you for honoring Dave’s life and legacy by helping care for the family he loved so deeply.