On October 31, Makenzie and Charlie’s lives were turned upside down when Dakota passed away unexpectedly at just 31 years old. He was an incredible dad, a loving fiancé, and someone who never knew a stranger, and was unapologetically himself.

Dakota’s greatest joy in life was being a dad to his 4-year-old son, Charlie. Whether it was watching movies or playing games together, a smile was never far from Charlie’s face when his daddy was around. Dakota loved his family deeply and worked hard every day to give them the best life he could.

Now, his fiancé Makenzie is facing the unimaginable — raising their son without him and trying to manage the financial challenges that come with such a sudden loss.

We’ve created this GoFundMe to help cover funeral costs, daily living expenses, and future support for Charlie as they learn to move forward. Any donation, big or small, will go directly to helping this sweet family find some stability and peace during this incredibly difficult time.

If you can’t donate, please consider sharing this page or sending love and prayers their way. Your support means more than words can say.

Thank you for helping keep Dakota’s memory alive and for standing beside his family through this heartbreaking time.

Services - Friday, November 7, 2025

McDonald Funeral Home- Rock Falls

1002 12th Avenue Rock Falls, IL 61071

Visitation: 10:00AM - 12:00PM

Funeral: 12:00PM