D’Vonte Perlinger

D’Vonte Perlinger

June 26, 2008 – February 8, 2023

FUNERAL SERVICE: Monday, February 13, at 11:00 a.m. at West Center Chapel.

D’Vonte Trinity Perlinger, 14, was born in Aurora, CO, on June 26, 2008, to Carrie Perlinger and Trinity “Jermaine” Keeney. Most of his life was spent growing up in Omaha.

From the time D’Vonte was old enough to walk and talk, his presence was unavoidable to everyone he encountered. His light captured the attention of others instantaneously, including strangers. He never knew a stranger. How many of us can say a stranger in the grocery store bought us a birthday cake? Or that we were invited on an all-day shopping spree with a neighbor down the street only to end the day as best friends? When he was just a little guy, he thanked a veteran in the row behind him at a Husker Football game, and wound up with pizza, popcorn, a pop, and a new friend.

D’Vonte had an intellectual ability that was on another level. He could engage in conversation with anyone, no matter their generational or background differences, offering a wide array of perspectives. He always left them in a better place than he found them. Many called him an old soul.

He was a light, a force, and undoubtedly the most adored member of his huge family. His brothers would never want to give him the satisfaction of knowing that their house was always the hangout spot for their many friends, most likely because of him. The four of them created a beacon of inclusiveness and love, opening up their home, and making everyone feel part of their unit.

Along with his mother, his brothers treasured him, nurtured him, and were such an integral part of the vibrant light he emitted.

He would light up when he spent time with his dad, and loved to tell about their adventures of going out to eat and going to car shows.

He was very intentional about his time with those he loved. Spending time with his mom was his favorite thing to do, and it didn’t matter what it was they were doing. He relished every car ride, every tradition, including their annual Halloween costume try-on day, and even something as simple as going to the batting cages.

He loved spending time with extended family, especially his grandparents. This last fall break, the only thing he wanted to do was spend a few days with his grandma Marcia, indulging in her home-cooking. Christmas breaks were often spent with his grandparents, making stroganoff, baking cookies, and teasing his grandma about her Hallmark movies.

His grandma Michelle will remember him as the coziest snuggler, the most handsome and loving young man, and she cherished watching Secretariat every time he spent time at her house.

Smack-talking was his love language. He loved to give his grandpa, his brothers, his uncles, and his cousins a hard time about anything and everything. That was his way of letting you know you that he loved you and wanted to spend time with you.

He loved his little cousins, Hope, Violet, and David. He dreaded the day Hope (3 years his younger) would pass him in height. He would sit and play UNO and teach them blackjack for hours. He always carried David around on his shoulders – a perfect parallel to his life — he carried the weight of others on his shoulders.

Everything that faith teaches us about how to treat people was exemplified by D’Vonte. He was a blessing to all. Whether you knew him his whole life, knew him for a short time, or just knew him in passing, he leaves us all with a piece of his heart because that’s exactly who he was – his heart was too big for this earth. As his dad put it, true blessings stay in your heart forever.

Though he leaves us with profound sadness, we are most sad for those who didn’t get the chance to know him.

He is survived by his parents, his grandparents, Bernie and Marcia Perlinger, his grandmother, Michelle Keeney, his brothers, Lincoln and Dasyn Perlinger, DeAirick and Delano Hernandez, several aunts, uncles, cousins, his “brothers from another mother”, and his three dogs whom he had love-hate relationships with: Vu, Re Re, and Ora.

He was preceded by his great-grandparents.

“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” – Winnie the Poo