Melvin Tesch

Melvin C. Tesch, Jr. age 68, of Henry, SD died on Saturday afternoon, January 4, 2014, at his home in Henry surrounded by his family after a lengthy illness. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 7, 2014 from 4-6PM at the Furness Funeral Home Chapel at Clark and will continue on Wednesday after 9AM in the funeral home chapel. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, January 8, 2013 at 11:00 AM in the Furness Funeral Home Chapel. The funeral celebrant will be Greg Furness. Dorothy Fuller will be the pianist with Char and Duane Peterson providing special music. Casketbearers will be Al Benck, Dale Peterson, Kirk Remmers, Dave Johnson, Darwin Clyde and Joe Alsmith. A luncheon will follow in the funeral home reception area. Burial will follow in the South Elrod Cemetery south east of Clark. Mel was born at Watertown on October 26, 1945, the son of Melvin and Ellenora (Redwing) Tesch, Sr. He attended school in Watertown, graduating with the class of 1963. While in high school he was active in wrestling. He grew to adulthood in the Watertown area. He was married in the mid 1960's. He worked in construction out of Sioux Falls and Minneapolis for several years and then worked as a foreman for Plastics, Inc. in Coon Rapids, MN. After moving to Henry, he was employed by Laird Larson Farms for many years and has worked for the Maynard Farms for the past five years. Fishing and hunting were his hobbies. He loved fishing tournaments. He was a Proud Angler, took 1st place in the 12th annual Dakota Sportsman Tournament in 1993 and won the 32nd annual 2012 Big Stone Tournament. He fished in many tournaments on Lake Kampeska and Lake Poinsett. He was preceded in death by his father and a son-in-law, Douglas B. Tuhkanen. Survivors include one son, Brad (Beverly) Tesch of McGregor, MN; three daughters, Barb (Ron) Tjosvold of Blaine, MN and Brenda (friend, Brad Swedberg) Tuhkanen and Becky (Scott) Stevens, both of McGregor, MN; nine grandchildren, Brandon and Breina Tuhkanen, Courtney and Kaylee Tesch, Cameron, Corey and Cordell Stevens and Mandee and Triston Tjosvold; his mother, Ellenora Schuelke of Castlewood; his brothers, Glenn Tesch of Henry, Tim (friend, Pat) Tesch of Watertown, August Tesch of Oregon, Chuck (Marlene) Schuelke of Willow Lake and Pete (Laura) Schuelke of Ringsted, IA; his sisters, Sharon (Vincent) Cordell of Castlewood, Ann "Peaches" (Al) Halverson of Brookings and Diane (Ken) Cartney of Aberdeen; many nieces, nephews and a host of friends. Furness Funeral Home of Clark is serving the family where there is an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com