Kenneth "Poke" Pokorney

Kenneth “Poke” Pokorney, age 68, of Yankton, South Dakota, died peacefully at his home on Sunday, March 2, 2025.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 AM, on Friday, March 14, 2025 at Wintz & Ray Funeral Home in Yankton with Reverend Dani Jo Bierwagen officiating. Burial will be in the Yankton Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home.

Ken was born April 5, 1956, in Yankton, South Dakota to Frank and Agnes (Kotalik) Pokorney. He grew up on a farm west of Yankton and attended a country school near Tabor, SD. Ken graduated from Yankton High School in 1974. He married Janice Stratman and had three children: Brian, Christopher and Stacey. He lived in Yankton all his life and at the start of his senior year began working at Morgan Manufacturing until the business closed in 2002. Ken then worked at Concrete Materials, retiring at age 65. His early years were filled with a pool and bowling league, and he even did a few years of square dancing. Ken didn’t mind a good game of euchre or sheepshead, too. He enjoyed visiting with his friends over a cold beer and keeping an eye on the weather. Ken read the newspaper every day and always completed the crossword puzzle. He loved watching old Westerns, The Three Stooges, and The Andy Griffith Show. Ken also enjoyed going for a drive out in the country and loved spoiling his grandchildren. He had a sense of humor that was anything but dry and always had a quick witty comeback.

Ken is survived by two children, Christopher Pokorney of Yankton and Stacey (Nick) Bartlett of Sioux Falls, SD; two grandchildren, Wayland and Lauren Bartlett; one sister, Carol (Darrel) Koerner of Sturgis, SD and several nieces and nephews.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents; son, Brian Pokorney; and brother, Dale Pokorney.