He was born in Cortland, NY on Oct. 11, 1953, to the late William and Marguerite (Butler) Durkee.
He is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 46 years, Sharon (Jordan) Durkee; his daughter Kristen Burnett (Jim); sons Joshua Durkee (Becky) and Colin Durkee (Lauren); grandchildren Tyler and Hanna Burnett, and Hunter, Sierra and Bella Durkee; siblings Claudia Beck, William Durkee, Heidi Tromley, Nancy Herbert and Martha Garvey; and several nieces, nephews, and many wonderful friends and colleagues.
David found a calling in the labor movement, where he built a career passionately defending worker’s rights. He started his career in 1973 at the Lewis Brothers Bakery in Evansville, IN. In 1983 he became Local 280’s business agent and financial secretary. In 1992, David was elected as International Executive Vice President by the BCTGM’s General Executive Board. In 1998, he was elected as International Secretary-Treasurer and Director of Organizing, and continued in this position until 2013, when he then became President of the Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco and Grain Millers International Union.
In 2012, David was elected to serve as the Chairman of the Bakery and Confectionary Union and Industry International Health Benefits and Pension Funds. He also served as Vice President of the AFL-CIO and was a member of the Executive Council. He also served as chairperson of the AFL-CIO Capital Strategies Committee and as a Trustee of the National Labor College.
David served as an Executive Board Member of the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department, the First Vice President of the AFL-CIO Union Label & Service Trades Department and as Chairman of the AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Conference.
David spent his life fighting for workers’ rights and was an advocate for every union member. The lives he touched through is work are countless. David’s 47-year career as a member and leader of the BCTGM was marked by an unwavering, untiring and relentless commitment to protecting and advancing the rights and standard of living of union members and their families.
While serving the union full time, David earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern Indiana in 1981, and his Master’s degree in agency counseling from Indiana State University in 1986. He was also a graduate of the Harvard University Trade Union Program.
David loved the outdoors and spent his leisure time camping, working in the yard, long walks, fishing, boating, and swimming. He was an automotive enthusiast of American-made vehicles, and enjoyed driving his Corvette and his truck, “The Bone”, which he rebuilt and raced in the early 1980s. David ran track in high school and later played and coached travel ice hockey in Evansville, where he was an integral member in building the Evansville Youth Hockey League. He was an avid IU Basketball fan and enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren play all sports. He loved all music and was always listening to a tune somewhere. David was a family man, and enjoyed any chance he had to spend time with his family, especially his grandchildren, where he was the happiest Papa around. One of his favorite activities was hosting his annual holiday Durkee Bowling Tournament, which brought in about 30 family members.
A celebration of life visitation will be held 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 8th, 2021 at Alexander North Chapel, 4200 Stringtown Road, followed by services at 2:30 p.m. officiated by Pastor Brian Buschkill. Livestreaming of the service will be available starting at 2:25 p.m. at www.facebook.com/funeralstreamusa Family is requesting that all visitors please wear a mask and follow social distance guidelines.
In Lieu of flowers, donations are kindly appreciated to BCTGM Int’l Union, 10401 Connecticut Ave, Kensington, MD 20895-3961; attention: David B. Durkee Scholarship Fund or St. Peters UCC, 7014 Darmstadt Road, Evansville, IN 47710.
Condolences may be made online at www.AlexanderNorthChapel.com.
