Dennis Wallace Kersten was born on February 10, 1948, at Clintonville Hospital to Wallace and Ruby (Marquardt) Kersten. He was baptized on March 7, 1948, and confirmed on June 10, 1962, at Peace Lutheran Church, Split Rock. Dennis attended grade school in Split Rock and at Tigerton Elementary and then graduated from Tigerton High School in 1966.
In 1968 Dennis was drafted into the U.S. Army and did his basic training at Fort Campbell in Kentucky. He served in Bien Hoa, Vietnam, from 1968-69 and was a SP5 in the 520th / 537th Personnel Service Division. Dennis received a Good Conduct Medal and an Army Commendation Medal.
After returning home from Vietnam, he worked at Marion Plywood until 1973 and then he started at Drott / JI Case in Schofield. Dennis began as a welder and ended as an assembler at the time of the plant closing in October of 1993. He was on layoff at JI Case from 1980 thru 1986 when he found employment with Orville Krueger of Marion for two years and Tigerton Retail for three years. Dennis returned to Schofield as a welder at American Dynatec Corporation for eleven years. Finally, he worked at Greenheck Fan in Schofield from 2005 until his retirement in 2014.
With his love of the outdoors and nature he enjoyed doing taxidermy for 44 years which kept him super busy. He loved the outdoors; hunting, trapping, trout and lake fishing, gardening, making firewood, and logging. He also cared for honeybees and kept hives for 40+ years. Dennis was a member of the Big Falls Bowhunters Club for over 51 years, being an officer many of those years. Dennis was instrumental in the club’s progress over the years. He was so proud to have received the heaviest deer award TWO times. Dennis was a true handyman and did all sorts of carpentry projects too. He was also an avid softball player with both fast and slow pitch in local leagues.
Dennis was a member of the National Wild Turkey Federation committee, also a youth and first-time hunter mentor for several years.
Dennis was united in marriage on October 3, 1981, to Dawn P. Seefeldt at Peace Lutheran Church, Split Rock.
He was a lifelong member of Peace Lutheran Church where he served on the council for many years, was a Sunday school teacher, confirmation mentor, played dartball, served on fund raising committees, and helped with repairs, maintenance, and carpentry projects.
Dennis was a proud member of the American Legion Post #239 of Tigerton. He served on the Honor Guard and is currently the treasurer for the post. He had countless hours of volunteer work. Dennis was so proud to be a veteran and had his sights set on the next “Honor Flight” to Washington D.C. His original flight was cancelled last year due to COVID and was rescheduled for this fall.
Dennis was an honest man with a strong Christian faith, and he wanted everyone to know. He always was there when you needed him to help you through. He will be greatly missed.
Survivors include the love of his life for 40 years, Dawn; and two sons, Paul (Tracy) Kersten and Wyatt Kersten. There is one sister, Sandra Much, and one brother, Ronald (Leanne) Kersten. He is further survived by his mother-in-law, Delores Seefeldt; six in-laws, Douglas (Karin) Seefeldt, Debra Seefeldt, Delbert Seefeldt, Darold (Julie) Seefeldt, Terri Seefeldt, and Glenn (Dorrae) Fietz; a special cousin, Larry (Carol) Kersten; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. Dennis is Christian Sponsor to Vicki Bleck and Nicole Seefeldt.
Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, Wallace & Ruby Kersten; father-in-law, Howard Seefeldt; brother-in-law, Daniel Seefeldt; and a Godson, Rick Fietz.
Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, June 19th at 11:00 AM at Peace Lutheran Church, Split Rock. Rev. Craig Nehring will officiate and burial will follow in the parish cemetery. Military Honors will be provided by members of the American Legion Post #239 of Tigerton. Visitation will be on Saturday from 9:00 AM until time of service at the church.
Beil-Didier Funeral Home, Tigerton, is assisting with the arrangements. Please go to www.beil-didier.com to sign the online guestbook or to send a card to the family.
We wish to thank the entire ICU team at Marshfield Medical Center, especially Dr. Bhushan for the compassionate care provided to Dennis.
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