KALONA

His bright smile, his penchant for humor and laughter, his positivity and joy. These are the traits that come to mind when people think David Tornow, a “great guy with a big heart” who seemingly had his hands in everything when he passed away unexpectedly in the final hours of 2024.

Even those who didn’t know him would have seen his work. He was the person responsible for the bright, prolific signs that lined Highway 22 in Wellman outside Mid-Prairie High School every time student athletes headed to state competition. He was one of the tradesmen who helped site the new railcar at the Kalona Historical Village just in time for Fall Festival. He was the building inspector shepherding in new phases of development in Kalona and Riverside.

Whether they knew him personally or professionally, Tornow’s bright spirit and vitality meant as much to folks as his skill as a tradesman.

“Without David’s belief in what the Village stands for, we wouldn’t be where we are today with our train project,” Nancy Roth, managing director of the Kalona Historical Village, said in a Facebook post. “David spent so much time helping with this project. Every hidden issue to every success, he always had a smile on his face with every challenge that came his way.”

Mark Robe, Mayor of Kalona, not only worked with Tornow on City projects, but connected with him as a fellow DJ. Tornow’s DJ business, Herb the III, was something he enjoyed for over 30 years, making weddings and other events memorable for many.

“Dave and I had quite a few conversations; some were serious, and some were not,” Robe said at the city council meeting Monday night. “The not so serious ones were mostly about the strange things that happen while DJ’ing wedding dances. The others were about work and how busy he was, and how much he enjoyed being busy. But whatever the conversation, they always ended the same way: with him telling me how much he enjoyed his job. He always said thank you to the council for giving him his dream job.”

For those who worked with Tornow at the City of Kalona, he was more than a coworker – he was a friend.

“Dave wasn’t just the City of Kalona’s building inspector, he was a key part of our city staff and the Kalona community,” Ryan Schlabaugh, City Administrator, said in a statement. “Whether managing the Kalona Historical Village depot project, facilitating the Village barn relocation, or contributing on the Student Built Projects, Dave brought dedication and skill to everything he worked on. His impact went beyond his job, making a true difference in Kalona.”

Ask anyone about Dave Tornow, and the response is universal: it was a blessing to have known him, and he will be deeply missed.