John Denke was born October 11, 1911, on his parents' homestead southeast of Creighton, South Dakota, the son of August and Rosina (Schuler) Denke.

He grew up on the homestead and received his education in the Creighton area.  As a young man he farmed in the Creighton community.

He was united in marriage to Bertha Geigle on December 14, 1939, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church near Quinn.

They made their home on a farm-ranch near Creighton, which they operated until health reasons forced his retirement.  In 1995 he moved into the Good Samaritan Center in New Underwood, where he has since resided.

John was a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Creighton and had served on the board of the Ash Township as well as the O'Neill Rural School.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Bertha Denke of the Good Samaritan Center in New Underwood; two daughters and their husbands, Laura and Wesley Olson of Summersville, Missouri, and Marie and Michael Naescher of Wall; six grandchildren: Dion, Alicia, and Kristi Olson and Brian, Darin, and Gregory Naescher; three brothers, Reinhold Denke of Quinn, Albert Denke of Clayton, South Dakota, and Emil Denke of Wall; a sister, Brigitta Geigle of Wall; and a host of other relatives and friends.

John was preceded in death by a son, Arnold Denke; his parents; two brothers, Henry and Robert Denke; and a sister, Anna Heinrich.

Services
Monday, June 30, 1997
10:00 a.m.
Emmanuel Lutheran Church
Creighton, South Dakota

Officiating
Pastor Ray Greenseth

Music
Nan Geigle - Organist
Congregational Hymns

Ushers
Wade Geigle - Fred Eisenbraun - David Eisenbraun

Active Pallbearers (All Grandchildren)
Dion Olson - Brian Naescher
Alicia Olson - Darin Naescher
Kristi Olson - Gregory Naescher

Honorary Pallbearers
All relatives and friends in attendance

Interment
Wall Cemetery
Wall, South Dakota