Grandpa Senska

Dean Sylvester Senska, 85, Woonsocket, died Monday, March 21, 2011, at Avera Weskota Memorial Medical Center, Wessington Springs.

Funeral services will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Bethany Lutheran Church, Woonsocket, with the Rev. Rhonda Wellsandt-Zell officiating. Burial will be at a later date.

He was born on July 12, 1925, in Woonsocket to Glen and Laura (Walrath) Senska.

He completed Milwaukee Country Grade School and graduated from Forestburg High School.

He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

Following his discharge, he returned to the family farm

He married Dianna Moore on May 29, 1960. When cancer forced him to semi-retire in 1981, he spent many hours wood-working and building furniture. He loved camping and fishing. He was one of the original contributors to the Forestburg Improvement Association and the last acting president. He was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church, Woonsocket.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Dianna; three children Douglas (Debey) of Forestburg, Darwin of Artesian, and Debra of Atlanta, Ga.; two granddaughters, Diaana Jo & Mara; two great-grandsons, Jayden & Luke; a brother, Millard of Woonsocket; a sister, Glenda (Avery) Thompson of Chamberlain; three sisters-in-law, Kathryn (Eldon) of Aberdeen, Phyllis (Boyd) of Sioux Falls and Phyllis (Ed) of Mankato; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers, Lynn, Eldon, Boyd, Donald and baby Adair Edward; and a grandson, Gunnar.

A quote, for this day.

"All that we can know about those we have loved and lost is that they would wish us to remember them with a more intensified realization of their reality. The highest tribute to the dead is not grief but gratitude."

-Thornton Wilder