David A. Breitung

The LORD in His mercy and grace called David Breitung home to heaven on Saturday, September 27, 2025. David reached the age of 99 years, 2 months, and 24 days when the LORD took him from this earthly life to his eternal home.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, October15, 2025, at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in North Mankato, Pastor Marques Nelson officiating. Visitation will be from 10:00-11:00 am. After lunch, the burial will be at 1:30 pm in St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery in New Ulm. Minnesota Valley Funeral Home of New Ulm is in charge of the arrangements.

David is survived by his sister-in-law Lorie Gieseke and nephews, nieces and cousins. He was preceded in death by his wife Bernice, his parents, two brothers Marvin and Arnold, and two sisters Doreen McGeorge-Eisenbraun and Ruth Walter.

David was born on July 3, 1926, at the Breitung farm near Revillo, South Dakota to Alex Breitung Jr. and Sadie (Varner) Breitung. He was baptized on March 20, 1927, in Methodist Episcopal Church, Buffalo, MN by Reverend C.E. Wittry.

David attended grade school at a country school near Revillo, SD and graduated from Revillo High School on May 12, 1944. Following high school, he helped on the family farm near Clear Lake, SD, until he was drafted into the Army on October 25, 1950. Fifty-two others from the Clear Lake area were drafted at the same time as Dave and they formed a bond and met regularly for the next 65 years.

The Army gave David training in vehicle electrical systems. He enjoyed the work and was very good at it. In addition to the electrical training, he learned photography, electronics and the ability to perform inspections. These four skills served him well for the rest of his life. The Army transferred Dave to Germany for his last year of military service. While in Germany he contacted his Breitung relatives and learned conversational German.

Dave was honorably discharged on July 28, 1952. He returned to Clear Lake to assist on the family farm. In September 1954 David made use of his GI benefits and entered college at South Dakota State College in Brookings, SD. On June 2, 1958, he received a B.S. in Agricultural Engineering.

David's work history began by working for the Soil Conservation Service, then with a company that designed and installed bulk milk tank cooling systems on many Upper Midwest farms. In January 1967 he began working for Thermo King in Minneapolis, inspecting and installing refrigeration units.

After 18 years at Thermo King, Dave began working at Kato Engineering in North Mankato, MN, inspecting industrial motors and generators built at the Mankato plant. Dave retired from Kato Engineering on June 30, 1991.

On August 7, 1965, Dave was united in marriage to Bernice Gieseke at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in New Ulm. They enjoyed ancestor research and often combined it with their love of traveling. Their research took them to the northern west coast several times and Minnesota and the surrounding states many times. They traveled twice to Europe especially Germany for vacations and ancestor research.

Dave and Bernice were members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in North Mankato. They looked to Jesus for their spiritual health and healing.

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