Obituary of Donald W. Guericke

Parkston – Donald W. Guericke, 83, entered into the God's Kingdom of Glory, as he died in Christ, on Wednesday, November 29 at Avera St. Benedict Hospital in Parkston.  Funeral service will be Monday, December 4 at 10:30 am, with visitation beginning at 9:30 am, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Clayton.  Arrangements by Koehn Bros. Funeral Home in Parkston.

Don was born into God's Kingdom of Power on March 16, 1940 to Ernest and Mary (Werning) Guericke on the family farm near Clayton, SD. He entered into God's Kingdom of Grace through the water and Word of Holy Baptism on April 28, 1940, at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Clayton, SD. Don was confirmed in the Christian faith on July 4, 1954, at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Clayton, SD.  He grew up on the farm and attended country school near there through the 8th grade.  He enlisted in the Army National Guard on November 12, 1956 and served his country until being honorably discharged on July 18, 1965.  He was united in marriage to Charlotte Wuertzer on March 11, 1962 at Salem United Church of Christ in Parkston, SD.  The couple made their home on the farm where Don farmed and did custom combining and trucking.  He retired in 2009.  He was an active member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church and served on a variety of boards.  He was an outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, and fixing and wrenching on farm equipment.

Grateful to have shared his life are his wife, Charlotte of Parkston; 2 children:  Steven (Kelli) Guericke of Sandy, UT and Susan (Jack) Kortan of Albert Lea, MN; 6 grandchildren:  LeAndra Guericke, Alex Guericke, Logan Kortan, Connor Kortan, Carter Kortan and Megan Kortan; 2 great-grandchildren:  Kollyns and Kendra Kortan; 4 siblings:  Harold (Sharon) Guericke of Mitchell, SD; Evelyn Walters of Plymouth, MN; LaVern (Gloria) Guericke of Bernalillo, NM; and Margaret (John) Bartell of Eugene, OR; and in-laws:  Ladeen Guericke of Las Vegas, NV; Robert (Jean) Wuertzer of Parkston; Ernie (Marlene) Wuertzer of Parkston; and Kathy (Jim) Dannenbring of Rapid City, SD.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Emma (Edmond) Rose; 2 brothers, Martin and Ernest Guericke; a brother-in-law, Larry (Helen) Wuertzer; and father and mother-in-law, Louis and Lillian Wuertzer.