A true servant of the Lord, Doni Hovick, was taken home to Heaven on August 6, 2024. He had a true love to help others and it showed in all that he did. He never hesitated in the face of danger and on many occasions he put others’ well being before his own.
He was born on February 28, 1969, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Eldon and Donna Hovick (Jose). He was baptized and confirmed at the Nazareth Lutheran Church in Armstrong, Iowa. Doni graduated from Armstrong-Ringsted High School in 1987 and went on to attend Mankato Vo Tech in Mankato, Minnesota. After leaving college, he worked at many different jobs.
He married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Kristi Sue Nelson, on November 17, 1990 at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Armstrong, Iowa. They made their home in Des Moines, Iowa briefly before moving back to the Armstrong-Ringsted area. They raised 5 amazing children, Alyssa Marie (Armin Schnelle), Dylan Joseph, Wyatt Makenzie, Jozie Rebecca Marie (Devon Lubenthal), and Rachel Dorotha. His children were his world and never missed an opportunity to tell others how proud of them he was.
Doni and Kristi lived in many locations in Iowa where he built a successful construction company and made life-long friends along the way. Doni volunteered for both the Ambulance crew and Fire Department in Ringsted, Iowa. In 2016 they decided to move to Fairfield Bay, Arkansas, where he opened Doni Hovick Welding. In 2017 he joined the Fairfield Bay Fire Department where he soon realized that was where his true passion was. Over the next few years, he was a captain, an assistant chief, and a fire chief. He loved his firefighting family and his community.
Doni was preceded in death by his father, Eldon Hovick. He is survived by his wife of 33 years, his 5 children, 2 grandchildren, Alexis and Azalea, his mother Donna Hovick, aunt Sandy Clow, sisters Dawn Hovick and Debbie Irmiter, best friend and brother Dan Paulson (Julie), father- and mother-in-law Mark and Suzanne Bonnicksen, brothers-in-law Dan Nelson (Amber), Matthew Nelson, Adam Nelson (Haley), Allan Nelson (Jeanette) along with many beloved nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
