Jake Vilhauer, age 82, of Huron, entered his eternal home on Monday, June 12, 2023, while at the Avera McKennan Hospital, Sioux Falls.

Jake's wife, Nadean Vilhauer, age 83, of Huron, joined her husband and entered her eternal home on Friday, June 16, 2023, while at Avantara – Huron.

Their funeral service was held at 11:00 AM, Monday, June 19 at the First Presbyterian Church. Burial was in the Riverside Cemetery. Their service was live-streamed.

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Their visitation was held from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, Sunday, June 18 at the Kuhler Funeral Home, with his family present during that time.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the First Presbyterian Church Building and Grounds Committee fund.

Jake was born December 22, 1940, to Emanuel and Bertha Vilhauer, in Huron, South Dakota.  He was the youngest of eleven children.

He married Nadean Decker on December 23, 1961, in Huron. Shortly after marriage they lived in Eugene, Oregon, before returning to Huron to start a family and raise their two daughters.

Jake graduated from Huron High School in 1958, and Trade School in Omaha, Nebraska in 1960 with an emphasis in engineering. He worked for early broadcast television as a radio tower engineer in Eugene, OR; before returning to Huron where he worked for Swift Inc., Amour Co., Dakota Pork, PHC and Jack Links. While at Jack Links, he played a key role in automating the local, national and international facilities for Jack Links.  Jake retired in 2013, but never stopped working.  His love of engineering and math compelled him to always be working on special projects around the house, and fully utilizing all of the tools in his shop.

Jake was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church in Huron.  He served on numerous committees, but the one he was most proud of was the Building and Grounds.  While serving on this committee he helped oversee many significant projects for the church: the addition of air conditioning, a completely new roof, remodel of the kitchen and dining, the installation of a new elevator, revitalization of the church bells that hadn't been functional for many years and the restoration and modernization of the entrances while preserving the historic appearance.

Jake was preceded in death by his parents; six brothers, Eugene, Robert, August, Alvin, Richard and Edmund; one sister; Eileen; and one sister-in-law, Ramona (Decker) Kleinsasser

Jake is survived by his wife, Nadean of Huron; two daughters, Lisa (Mike) Von Bergen of Sioux Falls and Mary Beth Vilhauer-Bommersbach of Sioux Falls; six grandchildren, Jacob Von Bergen, Cierra Von Bergen, Hunter Von Bergen, Will Bommersbach, Jack Bommersbach and Luci Bommersbach; three sisters, O'linda Lonborg, Leona (Jerry) Mattke and Carolyn Shabram; one brother-in-law, Everett Kleinsasser; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his best friend/colleague/partner-in-crime, Jim Hines.

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