Dennis Kleinschmit

Dennis Alphonse Kleinschmit Sr. age 79, of Yankton, South Dakota, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, October 24, 2023 at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton.

Mass of Christian Burial is 10:30 AM, on Saturday, October 28, 2023 at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Yankton with Reverend Tom Anderson officiating.  The funeral will be live streamed on Dennis’s obituary page at www.wintzrayfuneralhome.com.  Burial will be in the Yankton Cemetery at a later date.  Visitation is from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, on Friday, October 27 at Wintz & Ray Funeral Home in Yankton with a vigil service at 7:00 PM.  Visitation also continues one hour prior to the funeral at the church.  In lieu of flowers, memorials would be preferred.

Honorary pallbearers are his precious grandchildren and great grandchildren. 

Dennis was born December 19, 1943 in Yankton, South Dakota to Gerald and Irene (Pinkelman) Kleinschmit.  He grew up on a farm near Hartington, Nebraska where he attended District 82 Country School.  Dennis then attended Fordyce High School and Wynot High School.  On November 6, 1965, he married Patricia McGinnis at Sacred Heart Church in Yankton.  After their marriage, they made their home in Yankton where they raised eight children.  Dennis was a mechanic by trade and was a very hard worker.  He worked in manufacturing most of his life, first at the Freeman Company, then at Wilson Trailer, Kolberg-Pioneer and Ehresmann Engineering.  He also worked with his sons, Rick and Jamie at Pro Landscape in Yankton. 

Dennis loved classic cars and tractors and would often work on them in his spare time.  He was a “jack of all trades” and could fix almost anything. He was active in the Yankton Boxing Club where he coached many kids including his sons, Dennis and Rick. Dennis and Pat loved to dance and they could really “cut a rug”.  He loved animals, especially his dog, Herbie.  He and Pat also loved to travel and were blessed to go to Hawaii twice to visit their daughter, Amy and family.  Dennis had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to joke around.  He treasured his family, especially the grandchildren and great grandchildren. 

Dennis is survived by eight children: Dennis Jr. (Jackie) Kleinschmit of Yankton, AmySue (Craig) Anderson of Yankton, Rick (Sheila) Kleinschmit of Yankton, Melissa Flamming of Lincoln, NE, Kelly Kleinschmit of Hartford, SD, Heidi Kleinschmit of Yankton, Jamie Kleinschmit of Yankton and Tiffany Kleinschmit of Yankton; 13 grandchildren: Brittany, Brent, Brady, Kassie, Miranda, Brooke, Briana, Shelby, Jazlyn, Tayten, Tucker, Karsen and Ireland; 9 great grandchildren: Sophie, Bexley, Natalie, Historia, Kaylee, Kasen, Aiden, Mira and Remington; sister, Eileen Kusel of Hartington, NE; four brothers: Clinton (Chevonne) Kleinschmit of Madison, SD, Gerald Kleinschmit of Yankton, Roman Kleinschmit of Fordyce, NE, and Dale (Sandy) Kleinschmit of Norfolk, NE; two sisters-in-law: Connie Kleinschmit of Wichita, KS and Carolyn Kleinschmit of Yankton; brother-in-law, Daryl Lammers of Hartington, NE and many nieces and nephews.

Dennis was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Patricia on May 23, 2022; two sisters, Dorothy Tramp and Joan Lammers; two brothers, Charles and Ronald Kleinschmit; two sisters-in-law, Phyllis and Sharon Kleinschmit; and brother-in-law, Jim Kusel.

“It’s not what you take when you leave this world behind you, it’s what you leave behind you when you go.”

The family wishes to thank Angelhaus Assisted Living for their thoughtful care and Yankton Medical Clinic as well as Avera Sacred Heart Hospital for the wonderful care of both of our parents.