James “Jim” Loeschke

James “Jim” Loeschke, age 89, of Milbank, died Wednesday, November 11, 2015, at Park Place in Milbank.

Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, November 17, 2015, at 10:30 a.m. at Central United Methodist Church in Milbank with Rev. Dr. DeVern Schwenn officiating. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Monday, November 16, at Mundwiler Funeral Home in Milbank with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue on Tuesday for one hour prior to the time of service at the church. Burial will be in the Milbank Cemetery on November 17, with full military honors.

Casket bearers will be: Jason Orthaus, Kipp Jurgens, Kevin Granquist, Kendall Hagen, Matt Loeschke, Lucas Loeschke, and Jim Hemmer.

James Alexander Loeschke was born on September 26, 1926, in Vernon Township, Grant County, South Dakota to Edmund and Anna (Lueck) Loeschke. He attended school at Vernon #2 through the eighth grade. He graduated from Milbank High School in 1944. He entered the United States Army on May 14, 1945, and served his country until December 8, 1946. After his honorable discharge, James returned to Vernon Township to farm.

He married Mildred Schellberg in Ortonville, MN on September 23, 1953. The couple established their home in Vernon Township and farmed there for their entire married lives. James and Mildred had three children, Elaine, Kathleen and John. After Mildred’s death on March 15, 1980, he later married Leona “Lee” Martin at Milbank. They lived in rural Milbank nearly all of their married life.

Left to Cherish Jim’s memory are his children: Elaine (Troy) Hewson of Newell, SD, Kathleen (Gary) Granquist of Stockholm, SD, John (Karen) Loeschke of Milbank, SD; seven grandchildren and nine great- grandchildren; stepchildren, Deborah Hausman of Yankton, SD, Brenda (Dan) Von Osdel of Yankton, SD, Jody (Kevin) Welberg of Milbank, SD, Kim Martin of Milbank, SD; nine step grandchildren; eight step great-grandchildren; and two sisters-in-law: Frances Conraads of Milbank, SD and Carla Schellberg of Ortonville, MN.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents; wives, Mildred and Leona; three sisters: Mabel Kuehn, Irma Remund, and Marian Dorneman; and one brother, Vernon Loeschke.