Prayers needed for Donn & Kim Rhode

[buzzinhalfdozen]

Just spoke with Donns' wife Kim, sadly his stroke was too severe. life support would be the only option, which he would not want. My friend and mentor has precious little time left, Gods speed Donn Rhode. I have no other words.

[Gary Bouman]

Speechless and in tears,such a bad *** racer for years. Rosebud I'm praying really hard for you to come through this! Your friend Rug.

[Joe Martens]

Very sad news! Always enjoyed chatting with him at the races. I remember as a kid watching him run at Norwalk during the Street Eliminator days. High winding small block 4 speed. I was hooked after that!
Thank you for the updates, Joe.

[Bobby Rashid]

Very sad to hear this news.We love Donn and Kim very much.A lot of prayers sent.Bobby and Nancy Rashid.

[Carguy49]

Also praying for a miracle and strength for his family at this time. Not the news any of us wanted.

[buzzinhalfdozen]

It's with great sadness I have to report Donn left us around 11:00 Saturday evening. Knowing the end was near didn't really lessen the blow of the news. I believe I was 14 or 15 years old when I first met Donn, I was amazed at just how high he would wind that small block before dropping the clutch. I was hooked..... over the years Donn has helped me in many ways. Showing me how to properly assemble an engine, how to work on my clutch, so many things throughout all the years. He helped me put together a couple IHRA and NHRA record setting engines, I'm sure he was as proud of the performance as I was. One of my favorite fairly recent memories was a couple years ago. I hadn't raced in nearly a year, I gathered up a bunch of parts and Donn helped me put an engine together just so I could race. The first outing was an IHRA Sportsman Nationals at Dragway 42. I got lucky enough to win the Saturday event, afterward in the staging lanes awaiting contingency and pictures Donn came up shook my hand and gave me a big hug. Told me he was proud of me,It sort of caught me off guard as if you knew Donn for any amount of time....he really wasn't much of a hugger. There are so many memories that come flooding back. I was honored to have known him and have him as a friend. See you on the other side my friend.

[Carguy49]

R.I.P. Donn. Condolences to his many friends and especially his family at this time. The memories that family and friends have will last a lifetime.

[nhramnl]

I didn't know Donn, but you can easily tell what kind of man he must have been, by the comments others are making about him. Drag racing remains one of the last bastions of "old-fashioned" American values (honesty, integrity, kindness, acceptance, willingness to lend a hand, fairness, etc.), and each time we lose a guy like Donn, it diminishes us all a little. May you rest in peace, Donn, and may you be comforted by knowing what a wonderful man you spent your life with, Kim.