John D. King Jr.

John D. King Jr., age 76, died on Friday, December 12, 2025 at Good Samaritan Society in Tyndall, South Dakota.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 AM, on Saturday, December 20, 2025 at Wintz & Ray Funeral Home in Yankton with Reverend Dean Schroeder officiating. Interment will be in the Garden of Memories Cemetery Columbarium in Yankton. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.

John was born April 5, 1949 in Bloomington, Illinois to John Sr. and Loretta (Smith) King. He grew up in Carpentersville, IL and attended Dundee High School in Dundee, IL. John then later attended Elgin Community College where he obtained his engineering degree. He married Mary Ann Browning on October 21, 1967 in Lake Geneva, WI. After their marriage, they lived in Carpentersville, IL and John worked for C.R. Industries as a process engineer – a roll which he continued throughout his working career. In 1984, they moved to Tyndall, SD, then to Tennessee in 1995, later to Alabama and finally to Watertown, SD in 2009. John enjoyed his time working as process engineer trying to find solutions to different problems or issues. He retired in 2015 at the age of 67.

John loved fishing, hunting, and going 4 wheeling with his family. He was incredibly handy and could fix about anything. He was always willing to lend a helping hand or help anyone in need.

John is survived by his two children, Kathy (King-Mann) Ernster of Yankton and Phil King of Watertown, SD; three grandchildren: Joseph (Melinda) Mann, Sarah Mann (Kyle Massey), and Collin Mann (Olivia Chase); two step granddaughters, Kayleen and Jodi Ernster; eight great grandchildren; two sisters, Linda Browning of Wisconsin and Peggy (Frank) Brown of South Carolina; brother, Steve (Kathy) King of Lesterville, SD; and several nieces and nephews.

John was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Mary King on August 28, 2021; son-in-law, Duane Ernster; two sisters, Patricia (Ray) Carr and Christine Hollman; and a brother-in-law, Bill Browning.