Jeffrey Kuechenmeister, 40, of Brookings, passed away on Monday, Oct. 19, 2020, at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls with his mom and sister at his bedside.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, Oct. 23, at 10 a.m. at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Brookings. For those unable to attend, the funeral service will be live streamed on https://mountcalvary1.org.
Burial will immediately follow the service at First Lutheran Cemetery in Brookings. A time of visitation will be held the evening prior, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020, at Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings from 5 until 7 p.m., with a prayer service at 7 p.m.
Jeffrey James Kuechenmeister was born on Nov. 1, 1979, to Michael and Debra (Krogman) Kuechenmeister in Brookings, South Dakota. Jeff was baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit on Jan. 27, 1980.
He confessed his baptismal faith in the rite of Confirmation on Oct. 30, 1994, and was admitted to the altar to receive the medicine of immortality, Christ’s live-giving body and blood. Jeff attended school in the Brookings school system, graduating from Brookings High School in 1998. While in high school Jeff worked part time at Sturdevant’s Auto Parts and GP Auto.
Following Jeff’s graduation, he began working at Rainbow Play Systems and was still employed at Rainbow at the time of his passing. Always known as a hard worker, in his free time Jeff enjoyed working with his brothers Mike and Brian at Kuechenmeister Construction building houses.
Jeff had many joys in his short time including racing, riding snowmobiles and going on rides with his motorcycle. Jeff especially enjoyed spending time with his family, particularly time spent helping his brothers at various job sites. Although he was a man of few words, Jeff conveyed a sweet and caring demeanor that touched many lives in his 40 years.
Jeff quietly battled melanoma since April 2017. Sep. 28, 2020, Jeff learned the cancer had metastasized and spread to his brain. Aggressive treatment proved to be unsuccessful.
Jeff is survived by: his parents, siblings Mike, Jessie, Brian (Katie Hertel), nephew Michael and family friend Adrian Seymour, and girlfriend Jaclyn Boldt as well as his grandma Mavis Krogman and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
He is preceded in death by: his grandparents Bill and Mavis Kuechenmeister, grandpa Edward Krogman, uncles Dennis Kuechenmeister and Bernie Ohlenkamp.
