Arnold Lee Wienk

Arnold Lee Wienk passed away surrounded by loved ones on February 5, 2025, at Brookings Hospital. Funeral services for Arnold Lee Wienk age 87 of Lake Preston will be at 10:00 AM Monday, February 10, 2025, at the United Church of Christ in Lake Preston. Pastor Kris Larson will officiate. Music will be provided by Rhonda James as an organist.

Visitation will be Sunday, February 9, 2025, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the UCC Church In Lake Preston.

Interment will be at Lake Preston Cemetery. Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to Crawford Osthus Funeral Chapel. Active pallbearers will be, Sterling Eschenbaum, Ty Eschenbaum, Stetson Eschenbaum, Rhett Larsen, Rheo Larsen, Ryker Eschenbaum Honorary pallbearers will be, Arnold’s grandchildren, great-grandchildren, son-in-laws.

Arnold, son of LeRoy and Frances (Marquardt) Wienk, was born October 22, 1937. He was born and raised on the farm north of Lake Preston and graduated from Lake Preston High School in 1955.

Arnold married Carol Casper on June 1, 1958, at Lake Preston Lutheran Church. That same year, they purchased their first Charolais bull, and Arnold would often say, “In 1958, I got the two loves of my life.”

Together, Arnold and Carol established Wienk Charolais, and raised five daughters Deb, Kim, Peggy, Jody, and Amy, on the farm where Arnold was born and raised.

The family’s Charolais business took Arnold and Carol around the world. Together, the couple visited Spain, France, England, Holland, Belgium, Japan, Mexico, Canada, Australia, and all across the United States. They often took the girls along as they attended American International Charolais Association (AICA) events over the years.

Arnold and Carol moved to Brookings in 2017, and they enjoyed attending SDSU basketball games together and spending time at the cabin surrounded by family at Lake Poinsett.

For decades, Arnold and Carol hosted a bull sale on the farm, with friends and customers gathering to look over their Charolais cattle and spend time with the Wienk family. Arnold loved working with SDSU judging teams, FFA, and 4-H kids to help further their knowledge of the beef industry. They also loved to host others from around the world that soon became part of the family.

Arnold was involved with the community including the United Church of Christ and Lake Preston School. He also was actively involved with the AICA and Cattlemen’s Association at the local, state, and national level where he was instrumental in improving the beef industry through many association projects and initiatives.

Arnold and Carol have won many awards over the years with the most prominent being the National Charolais Seedstock Producer of the Year, SDSU Friend of the Beef Industry, Eminent Farmer Award at SDSU, and they were Inducted into the AICA Hall of Fame.

Grateful for having shared his life is his wife, Carol;  daughters, Deb (Al) Vedvei, Lake Preston, SD, Kim (Scott) Jensen, Lake Preston, SD, Peggy (Dave) Nolz, Mitchell, SD, Jody (Jeff) Eschenbaum, Lake Preston, SD,  Amy (Russ) Bailey, Custer, SD; grandchildren, Corrie, Stacie, Melanie, Danielle, Dannica, Denton, Amanda, Courtney, Kaley, Sterling, Ty, Calder, Stetson, Rhett, Rheann, Rheo;  twenty six great grandchildren;  brother. Vince (Micky) Wienk; two sisters, Susan (Ken) Everson, Janet (John) Koller; in laws, Gloria Wienk, Roxanne Casper, Caren, Roger Hoyer; great aunt, Doris (Mitch) Mitchell; many nieces and nephews; and all his friends at 60 Plus in Brookings, Brookhaven Estate Apartments, and other card playing friends.

Arnold was preceded in death by his wife, Carol, parents Leroy and Frances Wienk, brother Allen Wienk, sister and brother-in-law, Betty and Jerry Fyler, his in laws, Richard Casper, Roger Casper, David Casper, sister-in-law, Virginia Casper, grandsons, Denton Jensen (in infancy) and Calder Eschenbaum.

Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to Crawford Osthus Funeral Chapel.

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