William J. Kuechenmeister, age 88, died Sunday, November 17, 2013, at his home in Brookings, South Dakota. Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M. Friday, November 22, 2013, at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Brookings, with interment in First Lutheran Cemetery. Visitations will be from 5-7 P.M. Thursday at Eidsness Funeral Home, with a prayer service at 7:00 P.M. William J. Kuechenmeister was born October 29, 1925, in Rock County, Minnesota, to Henry and Anna (Fransen) Kuechenmeister. He grew up and attended school near Jasper, Minnesota. He moved to Elkton, South Dakota, in 1939, where he farmed south of Elkton. He was united in marriage to Mavis Wilaby on May 18, 1946, in Pipestone, Minnesota. He was then employed at Sexauer Elevator until 1949, when they moved to Beresford. The Kuechenmeister's made their home in Elkton, Beresford, Kimball, Montrose and White Lake working on farms throughout the area before moving to Brookings in 1968. Bill made a living working for Beckman Implement until retiring in 2000. Following his retirement he worked part-time mowing lawns and snow blowing, and he enjoyed helping his grandsons with construction. Mavis died on January 11, 1991. Bill was a member of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church. He was an active member of the Brookings Activity Center where he often played cards on Saturday afternoon. He loved to garden and share his produce with others. He enjoyed treating Tom's dog, Leo, to Oreo cookies and Beggin' Strips. Bill is survived by his five sons; Charles (Vicki) of Egan, Dennis (Shirley) of Sioux Falls, and Alan (Charlotte), Mike (Debra), and Tom Kuechenmeister, all of Brookings; special friend, Vivian Klein, of Brookings; 15 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Betty Nagel, of Brookings; a brother-in-law, Melvin Herold, of Brookings; and many nieces and nephews. Bill was preceded in death by his parents; wife; three sisters: Florence, Loretta, and Betty; three sisters-in-law: Helen, Dorothy, and Wilma; and four brothers-in-law: Russell, Leo, Thad, and Clarence.