Obituary of Daniel Pinkelman

Daniel Pinkelman, 71, of St. Helena, NE, passed away Tuesday, September 26, 2023, at the Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. Visitations will be 5:00-7:00 pm, Friday, September 29 with a 7:00 pm wake and rosary service all at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home and Onsite Crematory in Yankton. Funeral mass will be 1:30 pm, Saturday, September 30 at the Sacred Heart of Holy Family Catholic Church in Wynot with Fr. James Keiter officiating. Interment will follow at the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Wynot.

Dan was born to Alphons and Verna (Guenther) Pinkelman September 6, 1952. He was one of six children. Dan loved the outdoors including hunting and fishing and was an avid Nascar fan. 

Dan graduated from Cedar Catholic High school in 1970 and attended college in Springfield, SD for Auto Body technician. Dan moved to Wyoming and lived there for several years enjoying adventures that only a few close friends truly know.

Dan worked for Riverside Autobody for many years, then retired from Hydraulics Components in Yankton, SD.  His retirement job was working at the post office in St. Helena until his wife passed away.

Dan returned to Hartington and was reunited with Audrey Kleinschmit (Foster). They were married on October 22, 1996. They lived in multiple towns, before residing in their forever home in St. Helena, Nebraska. Dan has three daughters and six grandchildren.  He loved all of them dearly and was especially known for his well thought out gifts and unlimited knowledge. He always enjoyed a game of checkers with his grandchildren, was exceptionally good at puzzles and always had a newspaper clipping or something from the past that could be useful for the task at hand.

Dan had many friends that he visited, called or wrote letters to on a regular basis. He was a truly caring man who was considerate of many people’s feelings. His faith was strong and he was dedicated to daily prayer. He was a member of the Immaculate Conception now Our Catholic Family Church in St. Helena.

Dan’s laugh would fill the room. He had a sense of humor like no one else. He always had something clever to add to a conversation. His “dad” jokes would make anyone laugh and shake their heads.

Dan is survived by his three daughters and families: Mandy (Reggie) Hochstein and granddaughter Hazel of Hartington; Katie (Todd) Timmermann and granddaughter Rehgan of Washougal, WA; Cindy (Ryan) Chilson and Grandsons Ian and Tye and Granddaughters Ali and Lea of Newman Grove, NE; and five siblings, Anita (Randy)Larsen of Camdenton, Missouri; Diane Christensen of Omaha, NE; Karen (Ron) Lammers of Hartington, NE; Norman (Penny) Pinkelman of Columbus, NE;  Harvey (Ann) Pinkelman of Centennial, CO; He is preceded in death by his wife Audrey, parents Alphons and Verna, father-in-law Glenn Foster.