Funeral service for Ann K. German, 80, of Peever, SD will be held on Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 2:00 P.M. at the Grace Lutheran Church, Sisseton, with Rev. Suzanne Benidt officiating. Organist will be Estelle Pearson with special music by Jenny Nelson and Donald Backman. Pallbearers will be Brian Hoffman, Chad Merkel, Kaleb and Kalen Lechner, and Greg and Dan German. Honorary Pallbearers will be all of Ann's family and friends. Interment will be in the Green Mound Cemetery, Leola, SD on Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 11:00 AM. There will be a visitation on Tuesday, June 21, 2011 from 2:00 to 7:00 PM at the Cahill Funeral Chapel and one hour prior to the Funeral service at the Church on Wednesday. Ann Katherine Feichert was born on May 7, 1931 at Long Lake, SD to Jacob and Charlotte (Wacker) Feichert. She grew up and attended school in Long Lake Township. After her education she was married and the couple moved to Forbes, ND. She later moved back to Leola, SD in 1965. She was married to Elwood Lechner on June 19, 1968 in Leola, SD. The couple farmed north of Leola and sold the farm in 1981, and retired in the Leola and Eureka area. Elwood passed away in November of 1994. Ann moved to Aberdeen, SD where she met and married Donald German on April 10, 1999 at Peever, SD. The couple made their home near Peever, SD until health problems caused Ann to enter the Tekakwitha Nursing Center in Sisseton, SD where she passed away peacefully on June 17, 2011. Ann liked to sew, quilt, garden, and care for flowers. She loved to travel, fish, dance, and cook German food.
Ann is survived by her husband, Donald German of Peever, SD; seven children, Les and Robin Merkel of Wheat Ridge, CO, Jamie and Laurie Merkel of Dickinson, ND, Douglas and Faith Merkel of Scott Township, PA, Carla and Todd Gohl of Redding, CA, Jeffrey Merkel of Aberdeen, SD, Glen and Sandy Merkel of Cheney, WA, and Faye and Jay Gunther of Frederick, SD; one stepson Raymond and Rita German of Peever, SD; one sister, Delores and Luther Hoffman of Leola, SD; fifteen grandchildren, three step grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and eight step great-grandchildren.
Ann was preceded in death by her parents, her stepmother Mary, her husband Elwood, one son Curtis, one granddaughter Denise, one brother Albert, and one sister Dena Gehring.