Obituary for Patrick J. "Pat" Hurkes
Patrick "Pat" J. Hurkes, 72, of Watertown, SD, passed away on Tuesday, October 27, 2020 at Sanford Medical Center in Fargo, ND.
Funeral Services will be at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, November 3, 2020 at Grace Lutheran Church in Watertown with Pastor Cheryl Rondeau-Bassett officiating. Neal Mack and Shawn McCall will be the soloists accompanied by Kari Anderson.
Pat's funeral service will be recorded and will be posted to Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel website when available.
The family requests masks be worn and social distancing practiced.
Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. on Monday, November 2, 2020 at Grace Lutheran Church.
Burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery in Watertown.
Pat's life-long friend Larry Schmeling will be an Honorary Pallbearer.
Pallbearers will be Scott Riddle, Steve Evans, Jon Hurkes, Chad Stricherz, Jason Kasuske, and Martues Martin.
In lieu of flowers, memorials will be divided between local charities.
Patrick J. Hurkes, the son of Richard C. and Shirley (Schweiger) Hurkes was born on May 2, 1948 in Watertown, South Dakota. He was raised in Watertown where he attended school, graduating from Watertown High School in 1966. He then earned his Bachelor's of Science degree in Business and Psychology from Dakota State College in Madison, SD.
Pat's theory on life was to live life to the fullest, in which he did every day. Pat knew everyone and would never forget a name. To know him was to be his friend. In his younger years Pat was a "Motor head". He would rip cars apart and put them back together. His new bride Lori was always excited to receive car parts as gifts from Pat to put on his pride and joy GTO.
On March 18, 1972 he married Lori Albertson at Grace Lutheran Church in Watertown. Three children were born to this union, Kim, Jenny and Kristen.
Through high school and after college, Pat worked as a mechanic and then salesman for their multigenerational farm equipment business, Hurkes Implement. He became President and co-owner of the company. There he ran the business the "old-school" way, with honesty, integrity and where a handshake is a contract. He always said "if you love your job you never work a day in your life". Because of this, many close and wonderful friendships were formed through work.
Pat and Lori lived at Lake Kampeska and his favorite place to be was on his patio watching the sunsets. He loved taking rides around the lake with Lori. He enjoyed spending time with his family, his friends and Elk's friends.
Pat was blessed with seven grandchildren, whom he dearly loved and he had a nickname for each one of them. He was not just their grandpa, but was the biggest instigator in teaching them "fun" things.
To know Pat, was to love him. He didn't care who you were or where you came from, he always made time for you and you were his friend.
His passing will leave an emptiness in many hearts and those Kampeska sunsets won't shine quite as bright.
Pat was President of MN/SD Farm Equipment Retail Association and a Past Exalted Ruler of the Elks Lodge 838.
Left to cherish Pat's memory are his wife, Lori; their children, Kim (Chad) Stricherz, Jenny (Jason) Kasuske and Kristen Hurkes (Martues Martin) all of Watertown; his father, Richard C. Hurkes of Watertown; seven grandchildren, Kynsee, Cooper, and Camden Stricherz, Graysen, Kolbie and Colton Kasuske and Vayda Hurkes; his siblings, Mike (Violet) Hurkes, Jon Hurkes, Dave (Sandy) Hurkes, Jean (Paul) Ruhr, and Julie Matteson all of Watertown; sisters-in-law, Jan Albertson of Colorado, Shirley Lundy of Watertown, Sandy (Eric) Mack of Velva, ND; three brothers-in-law, Ron (Lisee) Albertson and Rod (Jane) Albertson of Watertown, and Rich (Shannon) Albertson of Brandon; his nieces and nephews; and his many friends.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Shirley Hurkes; his brother, Joel Hurkes; his in-laws, Bart and LaVonne Albertson; one grandson, Christopher Stricherz; a sister-in-law, Barb Procko; and two brothers-in-law, Ray and Roger Albertson.
Arrangements by Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel, www.wightandcomes.com.
Funeral Services will be at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, November 3, 2020 at Grace Lutheran Church in Watertown with Pastor Cheryl Rondeau-Bassett officiating. Neal Mack and Shawn McCall will be the soloists accompanied by Kari Anderson.
Pat's funeral service will be recorded and will be posted to Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel website when available.
The family requests masks be worn and social distancing practiced.
Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. on Monday, November 2, 2020 at Grace Lutheran Church.
Burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery in Watertown.
Pat's life-long friend Larry Schmeling will be an Honorary Pallbearer.
Pallbearers will be Scott Riddle, Steve Evans, Jon Hurkes, Chad Stricherz, Jason Kasuske, and Martues Martin.
In lieu of flowers, memorials will be divided between local charities.
Patrick J. Hurkes, the son of Richard C. and Shirley (Schweiger) Hurkes was born on May 2, 1948 in Watertown, South Dakota. He was raised in Watertown where he attended school, graduating from Watertown High School in 1966. He then earned his Bachelor's of Science degree in Business and Psychology from Dakota State College in Madison, SD.
Pat's theory on life was to live life to the fullest, in which he did every day. Pat knew everyone and would never forget a name. To know him was to be his friend. In his younger years Pat was a "Motor head". He would rip cars apart and put them back together. His new bride Lori was always excited to receive car parts as gifts from Pat to put on his pride and joy GTO.
On March 18, 1972 he married Lori Albertson at Grace Lutheran Church in Watertown. Three children were born to this union, Kim, Jenny and Kristen.
Through high school and after college, Pat worked as a mechanic and then salesman for their multigenerational farm equipment business, Hurkes Implement. He became President and co-owner of the company. There he ran the business the "old-school" way, with honesty, integrity and where a handshake is a contract. He always said "if you love your job you never work a day in your life". Because of this, many close and wonderful friendships were formed through work.
Pat and Lori lived at Lake Kampeska and his favorite place to be was on his patio watching the sunsets. He loved taking rides around the lake with Lori. He enjoyed spending time with his family, his friends and Elk's friends.
Pat was blessed with seven grandchildren, whom he dearly loved and he had a nickname for each one of them. He was not just their grandpa, but was the biggest instigator in teaching them "fun" things.
To know Pat, was to love him. He didn't care who you were or where you came from, he always made time for you and you were his friend.
His passing will leave an emptiness in many hearts and those Kampeska sunsets won't shine quite as bright.
Pat was President of MN/SD Farm Equipment Retail Association and a Past Exalted Ruler of the Elks Lodge 838.
Left to cherish Pat's memory are his wife, Lori; their children, Kim (Chad) Stricherz, Jenny (Jason) Kasuske and Kristen Hurkes (Martues Martin) all of Watertown; his father, Richard C. Hurkes of Watertown; seven grandchildren, Kynsee, Cooper, and Camden Stricherz, Graysen, Kolbie and Colton Kasuske and Vayda Hurkes; his siblings, Mike (Violet) Hurkes, Jon Hurkes, Dave (Sandy) Hurkes, Jean (Paul) Ruhr, and Julie Matteson all of Watertown; sisters-in-law, Jan Albertson of Colorado, Shirley Lundy of Watertown, Sandy (Eric) Mack of Velva, ND; three brothers-in-law, Ron (Lisee) Albertson and Rod (Jane) Albertson of Watertown, and Rich (Shannon) Albertson of Brandon; his nieces and nephews; and his many friends.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Shirley Hurkes; his brother, Joel Hurkes; his in-laws, Bart and LaVonne Albertson; one grandson, Christopher Stricherz; a sister-in-law, Barb Procko; and two brothers-in-law, Ray and Roger Albertson.
Arrangements by Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel, www.wightandcomes.com.