Walter Block, 95, of Grenville, SD died Monday, June 9, 2014 at Strand-Kjorsvig Home, Roslyn.

Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 Saturday, June 14 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Grenville. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5-7 Friday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church with a Prayer service at 7. Visitation will resume again one hour prior to the services at the church.

Walter was born on March 29, 1919 in Grenville, SD to Frank and Sophia (Golombiewski) Block. He attended school at St. Joseph's Catholic School in Grenville. He served his military duty in the U.S. Army. After his military service, he moved to Chicago, IL, where he had relatives and they helped him get employment at Webcor Corp. This became very helpful later in life for him.

While working in Chicago, he met and married Bernice, and they adopted two children; James & Sandra. He moved his family back to Grenville to farm land that his parents had given him. Farm life was difficult for Bernice to adapt too, so they returned back to Chicago and eventually the marriage ended and Walter once again came back to Grenville.

On November 9, 1954, Walter married Irene Kurkowski (Irene had six children), and they made their home in New Ulm, MN., until Irene passed awayin March 2003. The reason for choosing New Ulm was because Webcor Corp had started a plant there and because he knew management from the Chicago office. They hired him and he stayed with the plant until it closed. His next job was with Windings in New Ulm and lastly with the ADC plants both in St. Peter, MN and Bloomington, MN. He retired from the Bloomington plant as a Supervisor.

After retirement, he and Irene made their home in rural New Ulm. He spent many hours in the flower gardens and vegetable garden. He lived working outdoors and "tinkering" in the garage. His hobbies include: fishing, hunting, reading, picture taking and card playing. He enjoyed family get-togethers and spending time with his grandkids. He enjoyed trips back to Grenville whenever possible, usually summers when it was really, really hot.

After Irene's death, Walter moved to Webster and more recently his home was the S-K Home in Roslyn.

He is survived by three sons: James (Dorothy) Block of Indiana, Gerald (Sue) Kurkowski of New Prague, MN, Ronald (Karen) Kurkowski of Kalispell, Mt., four daughters; Sandra Tauer of St. James, MN; Caroline (Jerome) Richter of New Ulm, MN Maxine Kurkowski of Mound, MN; Arlene (Dennis) Sperl of New Ulm, MN, one daughter in law; Francoise Kurkowski of New Prague, MN; grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

Walter was preceded in death by his parents; Frank & Sophia, wives; Bernice and Irene; son; Joe Kurkowski; Son-in-law; Ken tauer, Daughter-in-law; Janet Pankratz; Granddaughter; Jenny Kelly, Great grandson; Jonathon Vieburg; Brothers Frank Jr., infant boy; Ambrose, Victor, Melvin, Eddie; Sisters; Helen, Anna, Sophia, Agnes, Clara, Lillian, and Marie