Dennis Duane Heupel, 72, Eureka, SD, died of Alzheimer disease in the early morning hours of December 3, 2024, surrounded by the love of his family. He always was an early riser.
Dennis was born on October 26, 1952 and grew up in Eureka. He was the only son of Harold and Meda (Meidinger) Heupel and was blessed with an older sister, Sue, who broke the ice and a younger sister, Jane, who he taught to drive a stick-shift. He was a kind, quiet and quick-witted man with a creative and mischievous side. His favorite target was his sister-in-law. Every Christmas the family waited to see what humorous gifts the two had made for each other.
Dennis excelled academically and graduated as salutatorian from Eureka High School, Class of 1970. He participated in high school sports and other extra-curricular school activities when not working on the farm. Following high school, South Dakota State University gladly accepted Dennis and he graduated in 1974 with honors earning a Bachelor of Science in Mechanized Ag. While there, he served on the SDSU Concert Committee that selected and implemented top musical entertainment for students. He returned to Eureka to farm following college and made it his lifetime career.
On November 28, 1974 he married Mick (Mary Michelle) Dailey who he had met while attending SDSU. This past November marked Mick and Dennis’ 50th Wedding Anniversary. They were blessed with two sons; Matthew works in the oil and gas industry and lives in Texas and Jared runs the family farm. He and his wife, Jess, have one son, Declan. Declan was Grandpa’s special joy and always brought a smile to Dennis’ face.
Dennis was a loyal family man. He enjoyed playing cards with family or with their card club, reading, hunting, watching sports, especially those his sons participated in, and singing. He sang with The Prairie Winds Quartet, a local group that performed at a variety of events in and around Eureka. One of his favorite times was the rare vacation he spent with his sons fishing in Alaska.
Dennis worked through many phases of farm life; drought, hail, heat, a tornado that nearly destroyed what he and his father had built, his father’s retirement, and more. Typical of the life many farmers live, he got up early and worked long days, no matter what the weather was.
In addition to his wife, Mick, Dennis is survived by his children, Matthew Heupel and Jared (Jess) Heupel; grandson, Declan Heupel; sisters Sue Price, Ft. Meyers, Florida and Jane Heupel, Naples, Florida; sister-in-law Eileen, brother-in-law John Walsh and nephew Garrett Walsh of Bismarck, ND; honorary Uncle and family friend, Dave Price.
Preceding Dennis were his parents, Harold and Meda Heupel, in-laws Gordon Dailey, Richard and Velma Dailey Erickson, sister-in-law, JoAnn Jordan, sister-in-law Joan Hickey and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.
His family is comforted knowing that Dennis Heupel knows who Dennis Heupel is again.
Dennis’s Church service will be livestreamed at the Lien Family Funeral Care Facebook page.
Memorial services are planned for 10:00 a.m., Monday, December 9, 2024 at the First Baptist Church in Eureka led by Pastor Patrick Russell. Burial follows at the Eureka Cemetery. Pianist will be Esther Grosz and the congregation will sing “Amazing Grace”, “How Great Thou Art”, and “Because He Lives”. Ushers will be Don Heupel and Cliff Berreth.
Honorary bearers will be Neil Meidinger and Kenny Meidinger of Zeeland, ND; John Walsh of Bismarck, ND; Jeremy Eberhart and Greg Grenz of Eureka; and Dave Price of Edina, MN.
Bearers will be Dennis’s sons, Matthew and Jared.
The Heupel’s prefer memorials which will be forwarded to an Alzheimers charity.
Services are in care of Lien-Straub-Carlsen Chapel, Eureka. (www.MillerLienFH.com)
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