Joseph J. Merkwan

Joseph J. Merkwan, age 69, of Tabor, passed away Monday, January 12, 2026 at his home in rural Tabor of natural causes. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 am, Friday, January 23, 2026 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Tabor, SD with Rev. Tom Anderson officiating. Burial will be in the St. Wenceslaus Cemetery, Tabor, SD. Visitation will be 5 to 7 pm Thursday, January 22, 2026 at the Opsahl-Kostel Memorial Chapel, Tabor, SD and then one hour prior to the service at the church. Online condolences may be sent at www.okfhc.com.

Joseph Merkwan was born on October 10, 1956, to Edward and Adeline (Carda) Merkwan at St. Michael’s Hospital in Tyndall, SD. Joe attended country school through third grade and then attended St. Wenceslaus Catholic School through eighth grade. He graduated from Tyndall-Tabor High School in 1974. He went on to Southern State at Springfield, SD and received a two-year associate degree in Diesel Mechanics.

Joe worked with Ed James Construction for a while, which led him to begin his own business, named Merkwan Construction. Backhoe, trenching and excavating was Joe’s world for thirty plus years. Joe also enjoyed working side by side with his dad laying water lines. Joe’s passion was riding his Triumph motorcycle to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally every year and participating in many local poker runs. Trapshooting every week for fifteen plus years was also a highlight of Joe’s life. Joe had a team that would trap shoot at Isaac Walton near Springfield, SD and with the Scotland Gun Club, Scotland, SD. Joe came home with many trophies whether it would be league night or tournaments. Another love of Joe’s was watching the TV show “Alf”. Soon after, he began collecting the stuffed character “Alf”. Joe has a collection of over 150 stuffed Alf’s in curio cabinets at his house on the farm. Friends and family were always on the lookout for any Alf memorabilia for him.

Joe passed away on January 12, 2026, at his home of natural causes at the age of 69. He will be remembered by his brother, Garry Merkwan of Sioux Falls and sisters: Jan (Mark) Smit of Platte, Jean (Rod) DeLange of Corsica and Julie (Dave) Kriz of Tyndall. Nephews: Justin Smit of Platte, Ryan Smit of Valentine, NE, Johnathan Merkwan of Harrisburg, SD Darren (Janelle) Kriz of Tyndall and Mitch DeLange of Corsica. Nieces: Kori DeLange of Yankton and Danielle (Wes) Kloucek of Tabor. Great-nephews and nieces: Boady Smit, Briggs, Nash, Jax and Emersyn Kriz, Ravenna and Rayna Kloucek and many cousins.

Those preceding him in death are his parents: Ed (2002) and Adeline (2025), grandparents: Anton and Anna (Cahoy) Merkwan and James and Anna (Hnilo) Carda and great-niece Kelli DeLange (1984).