Gerald "Jerry" Steineke, 71, of Brookings, died Sunday, March 26, 2017, at the Brookings hospital.
Memorial services are at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings. Burial will immediately follow the services at First Lutheran Cemetery in Brookings. Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Eidsness Funeral Home.
Gerald “Jerry” Lee Steineke was born on June 13, 1945, on the famiy farm by Hartford, son of Melvin “Bud” and Virginia (Spielman) Steineke.
Jerry attended Hartford Public Schools through eighth grade. After school he worked at a gas station until he went into the Army in 1966. He was stationed in Germany for two years during the Vietnam War. He worked with Gustufson construction when he returned. He married Marilyn (Sundermann) Steineke on Sept. 13, 1969, in Hartford.
After they were married they moved from Hartford to Colorado for about two years. Jerry worked as a sanitation engineer while in Colorado. They moved to Sioux Falls, for a few months, and then moved to Aurora. Jerry was a construction worker. They stayed in Aurora for about six years and then moved back to Colorado for about two years. They moved to Brookings, where they have lived since. Jerry worked with Twin City Fan then moved over to Kerry Sprinkler Systems. Jerry had retired but he continued to work with Kerry Sprinkler Systems as his health would allow.
Jerry enjoyed going fishing any time he could, and working in his yard.
He is survived by his wife, Marilyn of Brookings; three sons: Donnie (Dana) DeBoer of Hartford, Marty (Kim) of Brookings and Heath of Brookings; seven grandchildren; four brothers: Donald (Shirley) Steineke, Larry (Penny) Steineke, all of Hartford, Gary (Laura) Steineke and Richard (JoAnne) Steineke of Sioux Falls.
Jerry was preceded in death by: one son, Richard; four sisters: Donna O’Connell, Sharon Kelley, Shirley Kelley, and Bonnie Grayson; four brothers-in-law: Jim O’Donnell, Red Kelley, Jerry Kelley, Richard Grayson, Larry Sundermann, Dale Sundermann and Charlie Sundermann.
