Charles "Chuck" Kuecker

Charles “Chuck” Kuecker 86 of Webster passed away on Saturday September 12, 2015 at Bethesda Home in Webster. His funeral will be 10:00 A.M. Thursday September 17, 2012 at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Webster. Burial will be in the Webster Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday 6-8 P.M. at Fiksdal Funeral Service in Webster. Charles “Chuck” Kuecker was born on Monday January 14, 1929 to Edwin and Lillian (Erickson) Kuecker at Webster, South Dakota. He attended country school near his childhood home southeast of Webster and later attended Webster High School. After his education he farmed. On December 30, 1951 he married Marlene Folven at Webster. The couple made their home in Morton Township, south of Webster. In 1961 the family moved to Webster where Chuck was employed by Langager Implement as a salesman and parts man. In 1963 he started working for Webster Water Test Facility as a water operator and eventually became the manager in the chemical lab. As well as his employment at the Webster Water Facility. Chuck and Molly owned and operated Rogers Café, which was a 24 hour truck stop keeping the family very busy! In the early 1970’s Chuck was employed by South Dakota State University as an extension service instructor, teaching waste water and water treatment courses. In 1973 Chuck built his own business, Environmental Science Consulting Service (ESCS). He trained water and waste water operators throughout South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana and Indian Reservations in the tri-state area.Chuck made a great impact on safe drinking water on the Indian Reservations. Due to his tremendous effort in making healthy drinking water available to these reservations, Chuck was awarded with The George Fuller Award. This was a national recognition of excellence from the American Water Works Association. To this day Chuck is known for this great accomplishment in saving many lives by providing safe drinking water to these remote areas. Chuck retired in 2005. He and Molly continued to live at their home in Webster until Molly’s passing in October 2009. In 2010 Chuck moved to his daughter Kari and husband Allen’s home in Webster until moving to Bethesda Home in Webster where he resided until his passing. Chuck was a hard worker and took great pride doing his best at everything he did. He enjoyed woodworking, camping with his children and grandchildren and attended Fort Sisseton Days annually. Above all he enjoyed his family. He also said he was a luckyman who had a great life. He was a member at St. John’s Lutheran Church where he taught Sunday School for more than 20 years along with serving as the Sunday School Superintendent. He was a member of the Webster Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis, and Webster JayCees. He was a Boy Scout Leader and served as president of the South Dakota Water Association. He will be greatly missed by his children; Kris (Paul) Tvinnereim, Kari (Allen) Stacey both of Webster, SD, and Dana (Rachel) Kuecker of Rapid City, SD; four brothers, Ed (Mary) Kuecker, Paul (Shirley) Kuecker, David (Deb) Kuecker, and Roger (Carol) Kuecker all of Webster, SD; one sister, Betty (Jim) Glosimodt of Watertown, SD; seven grandchildren. Eric, Aaron, Candice, Charlie, Jeremiah, Sam, Joey; and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Molly, one brother John Kuecker, and one sister, MaryAnn Olson.