A Mass of Christian Burial for Jerome Edmund Wieneke, age 81, of Luverne, MN, formerly of rural Lismore, MN, was held September 28, 2020 at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne, MN. Burial with military flag presentation followed at St. Catherine Cemetery in Luverne. Jerome died on Thursday, September 24, 2020 at the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota at the age of 81 years, 11 months and 15 days. Jerome was born on October 9, 1938 to Edmund and Rose (Dollander) Wieneke in Leota Township, Nobles County, MN. He lived in Leota until age five when his family moved to a farm near Lismore. He attended St. Anthony Catholic School in town, graduating in 1957. Following his education, Jerome continued helping on the family farm and a short time later purchased his own farm southeast of Lismore.
In addition to farming, he served his country in the United States National Guard from February 1958 to February 1964, attaining the rank of Corporal. During his childhood years on the farm, his family was close friends with their farm neighbors to the east, the Lenz family. They had a daughter named Carol who was about his age. The two grew up together and developed a good friendship. Many years later, Jerome looked at Carol and knew she was the love of his life. They were united in marriage at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Lismore on August 31, 1963. The couple made their home on the farm where they put down their roots and raised their family. Jerome loved working the land and feeding his cattle. He took great care of his animals and spent so much time with them that someone once asked him if he put his cattle to bed at night. The couple continued to reside on the farm until 2005 when they moved to nearby Luverne. While there, he worked at Blue Mound State Park for five years, helped at a local welding shop, and farmed when needed with the Lubben family out of Leota.
Jerome enjoyed farming, woodworking and gardening. His family will miss hearing him say “eat it – it’ll put hair on your chest!” They’ll also remember his steadfast rule of “hats off at the table”. Above all, Jerome will be remembered as a man that loved his family and especially loved spending time with his grandchildren and great-granddaughter.
Jerome is remembered by his wife, Carol Wieneke of Luverne, MN; Kim (Mark) Diekmann of Chanhassen, MN; Craig (Lana) Wieneke of Castlewood, SD; and Gerri (Jeremy) Tebben of Corsica, SD; six grandchildren, Keela (Josh) Fick; AJ Wieneke; Lexi Wieneke; Emily Diekmann; Riley Tebben; and Avery Tebben; great-granddaughter, Madalyn Fick; brothers, Elmer (Judy) Wieneke, Jacob (Teresa) Wieneke, Herman (Eileen) Wieneke, Ray (Shirley) Wieneke, Frank (Deb) Weineke; a sister, Lois Schmidke; brother-in-law, Doug (Glenda) Lenz; and other family.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Arlene Steen; brothers, Carl and Harold Wieneke; and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Art and Emily Lenz.
Arrangements are entrusted to the Hartquist Funeral Home.
