By 
Mary Vanpoucke, 86, Watertown
Mary E. Vanpoucke, formerly of San Diego, CA, passed away at the age of 86 on Thursday, November 14, 2024 in Watertown, South Dakota. She is the sister of Carl Tesch.
Funeral services will be 11:00am, Tuesday, November 19, 2024, with visitation one hour prior to the service, at Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel in Watertown. Pastor Scott Dempster will officiate with A.J. Sherrill as the organist.
Interment will be at Goodwin Cemetery in Goodwin, SD.
Memorials may be designated to Jenkins Pastoral Care in Watertown.
Pallbearers will be Scott & Jody Evjen, Bryan & Lori Waege, Brian & Lisa Comes, Travis Tesch and Kathy Tesch.
Mary Eileen (Tesch) Vanpoucke was born on July 24, 1938 at home to Charles and Mary (Gebhart) Tesch. She grew up on the family farm near Bemis, South Dakota. She attended Hanten 12 Country School through the 8th grade, then attended Watertown High School and was a graduate in the class of 1956. Mary furthered her education in San Diego, CA at San Diego Mesa College.
She married Ted Vanpoucke in Goodwin, South Dakota and moved to San Diego, California.
Mary worked for San Diego Gas and Electric as a commercial billing administrator. She was the neighborhood rattlesnake exterminator in San Diego.
She was an avid reader and enjoyed gardening, especially flower gardening. She was an active member of the San Diego Zoo and the Bramble Park Zoo. Mary was also an avid walker and took part in many marathons. She loved the color purple.
Mary is survived by her children, Nancy (Tony) Forsman of Shelton, WA and Dan (Linda) Vanpoucke (step-son) of Lahaina, HI; one granddaughter, Linnea; and one great-grandson, Bjorn; her siblings, Dorothy (Harlen) Barck of Marshall, MN, Kenny Tesch of Watertown, SD, Marjorie Tesch of Watertown, SD, Dianne Adams of Omaha, NE and Carl (Mary) Tesch of Watertown, SD
She is preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Carol Jean; her brother, Dennis; and step-daughter, Debbie.
