It is with sorrow and gratitude that we mark the passing of Walter K. Mielke, 90, — sorrow at the loss, gratitude for the life.
A life is more than dates on a stone; here is a small portion of his story.
The story begins in 1932, with the arrival of a life that would be cherished by many.
Walter held deeply to the Lutheran faith — and was, by all accounts, loved by those who knew him best.
Service is one chapter of a life, but for those who serve, it shapes every other.
Walter K. Mielke, 90 of Parker, died on May 4, 2023, at the Tieszen Memorial Home in Marion. Funeral Service will be at 1:30pm Tuesday, May 9, 2023, at the First English Lutheran Church, Parker. Visitation will be from 5-7pm Monday at Hofmeister-Jones Funeral Home, Parker. The funeral will be livestreamed at www.facebook.com/HofmeisterJonesFuneralHome Walter Kenneth Mielke was born on December 5, 1932, near Parker, SD to Gustav and Anna (Langrehr) Mielke. He grew up near Parker where he graduated from Parker High School in 1951. During the Korean War he served in the US Air Force for 4 years, having flown 26-night missions as a gunner in a B-29 Bomber. After his discharge from the service under the G-I Bill he attended South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD, graduating with a BS degree with honors in ag business in 1959. On March 29, 1959, he was united in marriage to Jean K. Beitz at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Huron, SD. They farmed for a brief time between Beresford and Lennox before moving to a farm near Parker where they have lived and farmed for the past 58 years. He was a member of First English Lutheran Church. Grateful for having shared his life are his wife Jean; 4 sons, Kevin (Kris) Mielke, Worthing, SD, Keith Mielke and Kurtis Mielke, both of Parker and Kyle (Holly) Mielke, Abilene, Texas; 7 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren; a sister Mary Ann (Wayne) Andrews, New York; and 2 brothers, Richard (Laurie) Mielke, Minneapolis, and John Mielke, Colorado. He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter Karen, an infant son Kenneth, a grandson Adam, and a brother Delbert.
