Donovan Joseph Irvin

Wasilla resident Donovan Joseph Irvin, 18, died at his home June 16, 2011.

Memorial services in honor of Donovan are at 3 p.m., Friday, July 1, at Valley Funeral Home Chapel, 151 E. Herning Ave., Wasilla, with Pastor Ed Blocker officiating.

A celebration of life gathering is from 2 to 4 p.m., Saturday, July 2, at the home of Ted and Kathy Keller, 2131 N. Patsy St., Wasilla.

Donovan was born Jan. 31, 1993, in Grand Prairie, Texas, the son of David Irvin and Samantha Karnowsky.

Donovan attended Houston High School. He recently began working at Papa John’s pizza holding the advertisement sign by the Parks Highway in Wasilla. Don helped anyone he saw who needed help and was always collecting stray animals. Don mostly spent all his time with his fiancée, Heather, and daughter Adalie. He liked to write stories and raps, enjoyed riding his scooter and loved to spend time with his animals.

The family wrote, “Don was a happy kid and enjoyed spending time with his family. He liked making people laugh and once peeled off his clothes in the classroom to reveal a skeleton costume to make the class laugh. He loved his friends. Don’s biggest love in his life was his daughter, Adalie. She is his pride and joy, and he will continue to watch over her from heaven.”

Donovan was preceded in death by his loving brother, David J. Irvin.

He is survived by his loving mother and her fiancé, Samantha Karnowsky and Eric Rosati of Wasilla; his loving father and his fiancée, David D. Irvin and Jessica Cromwell of Wasilla. He is also survived by his fiancée and daughter, Heather L. Boyce and Adalie Dawn Irvin of Wasilla; brother, Joshua M. Cromwell of Rapid City, S.D.; sister, Teddi K. Irvin of Wasilla; sister, Amy Irvin of Fairbanks; grandparents, Ted and Kathryn Keller of Wasilla; grandfather, David Irvin of Independence, Mo.; grandmother, Sharon McNeale of Sturgis, S.D.; and many other friends and family who will miss him dearly.