Gerald “Gerry” F. Mechtenberg, 84, Mitchell, formerly of Parkston, died Sunday, December 6, 2015 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM Thursday December 10, 2015 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Mitchell. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Parkston. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5-7:00 PM with a scripture service at 7:00 PM at the Bittner Funeral Chapel. Condolences may be left at Bittner Funeral Chapel.
Gerry was born October 16, 1931 to Leo and Louise (Nuebel) Mechtenberg at their family farm. He attended 1st thru 8th grade at Sacred Heart School in Parkston and graduated from Parkston High School in 1949. He served in the Army and was stationed in Germany during the Korean conflict from 1952-1954.
He married Joyce Strohmayer on November 23, 1954. She died in January, 1980. Together they had seven children. Gerry was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, the American Legion and the V.F.W. He farmed north of Parkston for over 45 years. Jerry enjoyed talking about farming, watching sports and visiting with family and friends.
Gerry married Marilyn (Taft) Bauer on December 30, 1982. He moved to Mitchell in 1986 and became a member of Holy Spirit Church.
Grateful for sharing his life are his wife, Marilyn and Gerry’s children: Paula (Mark) Radel of Mitchell; Dan (Pam) of Lincoln, NE; Mike (Patty) of Dell Rapids; Linda (Steve) Williams of Spearfish, SD; Becky (Dan) Bauer of Harrisburg, SD; Mary (Bob) Smits of Greenleaf, WI.; daughter-in-law, Leslie Mechtenberg, Parkston, SD., three step-sons: Mark (Bonnie) Bauer, El Paso, TX.; Dan (Becky) Bauer, Harrisburg, SD.; Bryan (Lisa) Bauer, Rapid City, SD.; two step-daughters: Maureen Bauer, Minneapolis, MN., Paula (Terry) Abeln, Mitchell, SD., one sister, Sister Carol Mechtenberg, Gillette, WI., one brother, Larry (Darlene) Mechtenberg, Slayton, MN., thirty-one grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren. Gerry was preceded in death by his parents, first wife, Joyce in 1980, son, Scott in 1998 and son-in-law, Jay Hansen in 2010.