David F. Ikonen

David F. Ikonen passed away January 12, 2026 after a brief battle with cancer. 

Dave attended SIU where he met his wife of 57 years, Susan. He served his country in the Vietnam War as an Engineer in the Air Force at Monkey Mountain. He eventually took his education/knowledge to Caterpillar where he retired after 35 years. While employed at CAT, he was also a volunteer Fireman and EMT. 

He always loved the family’s road trips to Florida and neighborhood fishing trips. His basement has always been one of his ‘happy places’ where he spent many hours working on different projects from tending his flower garden and tinkering with his computers/electronics to designing/building model airplanes. 

He is survived by his wife Susan (Remiyac) Ikonen, daughter Jennifer Dewey, son Peter Ikonen, his grandchildren Jacob and Madison Dewey, sisters Lorraine (Steve) Diffenbaugh and Theresa Terronez. 

He was preceded in death by his Father Olli Ikonen, Mother Mary (McCormick) Ikonen, brother Mark Ikonen and sister Kathy Sansone. 

Dave was a good man who lived a good life. A few of his final words were ‘Life of the Party’ and for those that knew him, he was just that. A Celebration of Life will be planned for this Spring so until then, let’s all take a page from his playbook and do a good deed, lend a helping hand or just be there for someone you know needs it.