Emil E. Denke was born July 25, 1917 on his parents’ homestead near Creighton, South Dakota, the son of August and Rosina (Schuler) Denke. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Quinn, South Dakota. He grew up on the homestead and attended Rainy Creek Rural School near Creighton and then attended Wall High School.

As a young man he farmed and ranched with his parents. He served in the U.S. Army as a male certified nurse during WWII. He was honorably discharged in August 1943 after his father’s death so he could return to operate the family farm. He continued to operate the family farm with his mother until her death in 1957. He continued to farm until selling the farm in 1978 and moving into Wall. He lived in Wall until health reasons forced him into the Good Samaritan Center in New Underwood on August 31, 1999, where he has since resided.

Emil was a member of First Lutheran Church in Wall, and sang in the church choir. While living in Wall, he enjoyed his many nieces and nephews and good neighbors. He also enjoyed playing pool with his retired friends.

Grateful for having shared his life are one sister Brigitta Geigle of Parkston, formerly of Wall; a sister in-law Tillila Denke; many nieces and nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Emil was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers, Henry, Reinhold, Robert, John, and Albert; and one sister Anna Heinrich.

Visitation was held 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 7, at the Rush Funeral Chapel in Wall, and one hour prior to the services at the church on Monday.

Funeral services were held 10:00 a.m. Monday at the First Lutheran Church in Wall, with Vicar Monty Dell officiating.

Interment with military honors was in the Wall Cemetery.

A memorial is established to the First Lutheran Church in Wall and the Good Samaritan Center in New Underwood.

FUNERAL SERVICES
Monday, March 8, 2004 10:00 a.m.
First Lutheran Church
Wall, South Dakota
CLERGY
Vicar Monty Dell
MUSIC
Mary Kay Wilson – Organist
First Lutheran Church Choir
Congregational Hymns
"I Am But A Stranger Here"
"What A Friend We Have In Jesus"
USHERS
Stan Anderson – Van Simpfenderfer -Darwin Haerer
PALLBEARERS
Doug Hart – Scott Baye
Jay Myers – Monte Denke
Brian Naescher – Russell Logan
HONORARY PALLBEARERS
All Relatives and Friends in Attendance
INTERMENT
Wall Cemetery
Wall, South Dakota
"SEE YOU NEXT TIME"