Jason Kotilnek

Jason Kotilnek, 45, of Sioux Falls died unexpectedly after a short illness on Saturday, April 19th at his home in Sioux Falls.

Born on July 18, 1979, in Pierre to his beloved parents, Tom and Cecelia (Schofield) Kotilnek. Growing up in Pierre with his sister Gina and brother Jon, Jason's life was marked by a deep capacity for connection and a vibrant spirit. He graduated from TF Riggs High School in 1998, where his love of music, his ability to bring laughter, and the strong bonds of friendship he forged were already evident. He was a unique soul - intensely loyal, deeply emotional, wonderfully stubborn, and possessing a truly unforgettable sense of humor.

Following high school, Jason pursued his passion for understanding how things worked at Western Dakota Vo-Tech in Rapid City, earning an Associate's Degree in Electronics. Eventually, this led him to establish Coffee Medic, his own small business in Sioux Falls where he expertly serviced coffee and espresso machines for large corporations like Starbucks and Caribou Coffee.

Jason is survived by his loving daughter, Abigail Kotilnek; his devoted life partner of nine years, Tyanne Autumn Pearson; his mother, Cecelia Kotilnek; his sister, Gina (Scott) Hickenbotham; his brother, Jon (Pati) Kotilnek; and his niece and nephews: Max, Ben, Thomas, and Hanna. He is also remembered with love by numerous Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins.

He was preceded in death by his father, Tom Kotilnek; his grandparents, Joe and Mary Ellen Schofield and Roger and Kathryn Kotilnek; and his uncles, Vincent Schofield, Tim Riggins, and Joe Prouty, as well as his cousin Michael Schofield.