Erick Wientjes, 36, of Watertown, SD passed away June 23, 2013 at Prairie Lakes Hospital in Watertown. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m., Thursday, June 27, 2013 at Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer in Watertown. Pastor Kent Stillson will officiate, and A.J. Sherrill will be the organist.
Visitation will be 4-8:00 p.m., Wednesday at Wight, Comes & Sogn Funeral Chapel in Watertown.
Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery in Watertown.
Honorary Pallbearers will be the A and B shift of Watertown Fire Rescue, and LATI staff and students.
Pallbearers will be his fellow C shift members, Tyler McElhany, Troy Breitag, Chad Fischer, Adam Heinrich, Adam Bloom, Gavin Pollert, Aaron Wiechmann, Kyle Steffensen, Zach Hagen and Andrew Sebek.
Erick Rue Wientjes was born to Mark and Cathy (Keiser) Wientjes on August 25, 1976 in Watertown, South Dakota. He grew up in Watertown and graduated from Watertown High School. He attended Paramedic schooling in Brookings. Erick married Diane Bailey on July 19, 2003 at Grace Lutheran Church in Watertown. He was employed by Watertown Fire Rescue and LATI.
Erick loved spending time with his family, and watching the Minnesota Twins. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, woodworking, and the outdoors.
He was a member of the Dakota Sportsman, The Elks Lodge 838, The Local #1724 Firefighters Union, and the Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer.
He is survived by his wife, Diane and children, Ethan and Emma, all of Watertown; his siblings, Chad (Lynn) Wientjes of Milbank, Billy (Danielle) Wientjes, Adam (Amanda) Wientjes, and Colton (fiancé, Amanda Beynon) Wientjes, all of Watertown; his parents, Mark and Cathy of Watertown; his mother-in-law, Darlene Bailey of Watertown; his brothers-in-law, Kenny (Claire) Bailey of Gatesville, TX, Mark (Cindy) Bailey of Watertown, SD, David Bailey, Daryl (Dawn) Bailey and Paul Bailey all of Temple, TX; and several aunts, uncles, cousins, and nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, John & Ethel Wientjes, and Dwaine & Vivian Keiser; great grandparents, Lloyd & Ethel Keith; his father-in-law, Fred Bailey; and sisters-in-law, Sophia and Susan Bailey.