JACQUE DIERKS

Jacque A. Dierks, age 71, of Mitchell, passed away at home on Sunday, July 21st, with family at his side. Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., on Thursday, July 25th, at Will Funeral Chapel. Funeral services will be held at First Lutheran Church on Friday, July 26th, at 10:30 a.m. A committal service with military honors will follow at Pleasant Ridge Cemetery in Armour at 1:30 p.m. There will be a gathering at the Blue Moon in Armour following burial. Memorials in Jack’s honor may be directed to the Rochford, community church or fire department.

Jack was born August 11, 1947, the youngest of eight, to Lyle and Frances (Kroeger) Dierks in Geddes. He grew up on the family farm southwest of Armour, attended country school and then graduated from Armour High School in 1965. He went on to serve his country in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam Conflict. After enlisting in July 1966, Jack served on the USS Hornet aircraft carrier stationed in the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. He was honorably discharged as an E5 in July 1970. On November 7, 1970, Jack was united in marriage to Patricia (Patty) Cuka in Wagner. In August 1970, Jack began employment as a lineman with Northwestern Public Service in Mitchell and retired in June 2000. Jack was a member of the Mitchell American Legion Post #0018 and the Mitchell Moose Lodge #875. Jack enjoyed fishing, hunting, taxidermy, woodworking, building the family cabin in the Black Hills, coffee groups and especially time spent with family and grandchildren. He could fix anything and was a talented man. He was very proud of his sons and their families.

Grateful for having shared in Jack’s life: his wife of over 49 years; his two sons: Dr. Dustin (Kelly)Dierksof Sioux Falls,and Dr. Travis (Dr. Karina) Dierks of Spokane, WA; grandchildren Elizabeth, Alissa, Andrew, Noah and Hannah; brothers Duane of Sioux Falls and Denny (Lila) of Greeley, CO; sisters Maxine Todd of San Lorenzo, CA, Betty Knodel of Armour; sister-in-law Jan Dierks of Mitchell; brother-in-law Francis Cuka of Wagner; along with many nieces and nephews. Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Lyle and Frances Dierks; brothers Richard, Lyle (Bub), Larry; infant sister Donna; his mother and father-in-law, Frank and Pauline Cuka; brothers-in-law Rueben Knodel, Don Todd, William Cuka and Sam Hoff; sisters-in-law Barbara Dierks, Polly Dierks, Dorothy Hoff, Irene Cuka, Mildred Cuka; nieces Tammy Knodel, Pam Todd, Carol Wallace, Nancy Woodson.