Dennis "Denny" Jeske

ROCHESTER, MN – Dennis Eugene Jeske, 76, of Rochester Minnesota passed away on May 7th, 2020 at the Haven Cottagewood Senior Care Community. He passed peacefully, surrounded by family, after a long battle with Lewy Body Dementia. Private family services will be held 10:30 A.M. Tuesday May 12, 2020 at St. Johns Lutheran Church and will be live-streamed on Fiksdal Funeral Service Facebook page. Private burial will be in the Webster Cemetery. Dennis was born on April 14, 1944 in Peabody Memorial Hospital in Webster, SD to Milton and Alvina (Strommen) Jeske. Growing up on a farm, he attended Morton County Country School and Webster Grade School. He graduated from Webster High School in 1962. His education continued at Aberdeen School of Commerce where he graduated in 1965 and proceeded to work for the Federal Milk Market in Sioux Falls, SD. In addition to several other jobs, Dennis served as a proud member of the South Dakota National Guard. On June 29, 1968, Denny married the love of his life, Nancy Bartos, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Webster. They made their home in Sioux Falls where he attended Augustana College and graduated in 1972 with a degree in Accounting. In St Paul, MN, he began a 30-year career with the U.S. Treasury Department. Their daughter, Tiffany, was born in 1972 in Edina, MN, followed closely by the birth of the Minnesota Twins, Teri and Toni, born in Marshall, MN in 1974.Dennis enjoyed spending time outdoors, especially hunting and fishing. He had a life-long passion for cars which grew from his work as a young man at Tommy’s Standard Station in Webster. His hobbies included working on his 1967 Chevy Impala Convertible, taking care of his yard and following the financial markets. He was also very active in the Rochester community, volunteering extensively at the Mayo Historical Museum where he was a team leader, serving Gloria Dei Lutheran Church as a council member and usher for many years as a long-time member. He was also devoted to lifelong bible study. His greatest joy was following the activities of his children and grandchildren, as well as spending holidays with his immediate and extended family. Denny and Nancy have also been blessed with wonderful neighbors and lifelong friends, including many in Lake Crystal, MN and Rochester, MN. Denny will be remembered for his compassion, warm and ready smile, quiet humor, and calm logical advice. He had a life full of true friends and loving family. Dennis Eugene Jeske is survived by his wife, Nancy, of 52 years of marriage; his three daughters Tiffany (Bruce) Sundeen of Fargo, ND, Teri (Jeff) Duford and Toni (David) Vanden Bos both of Xenia, OH; his grandchildren Jacob, Rachel and Abigail Sundeen, Joseph Eugene and Benjamin Duford, Andrew and Zachary Eugene Vanden Bos; his brother, John (Paulette) of Webster, SD; brother-in-law Rock (Debo) Bartos of Sugarland, TX; his nieces Brandi (Tom) Hiser and Rebecca (Earl) Miranda; nephews Mike Jeske, Kash Gaikowski, and Dusty Gaikowski; along with many cousins and grandnieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Milton and Alvina Jeske, his parents-in-law, Bob and Frances Bartos, his maternal and paternal grandparents, and his siblings-in-law Roger and Teri Gaikowski. We are so grateful to his caregivers and friends at The Haven at Cottagewood where he lived in a family atmosphere for 16 months and the compassionate Heartland Hospice Team. Memorials are preferred to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Rochester MN and Mayo Clinic Lewy Body Research.