Francis Dean Uecker, age 66 of Mitchell, died Tuesday, December 06, 2011 at Avera Queen of Peace Hospital. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM Saturday, December 10, 2011 at the Congregational UCC Church in Mitchell with burial in the Canistota Cemetery in Canistota, SD. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 PM Friday, December 9 at the Will Funeral Chapel with a prayer service beginning at 7:30 PM. Francis Dean Uecker, son of Dale and Vera (Ericksen) Uecker, was born July 25, 1945 in Sioux Falls, SD. He was 6 months old before his father saw him due to World War II. He attended the South Dakota Developmental Center in Redfield, SD. Francis later moved to Madison, SD and attended ECCO (Every Citizen Counts Organization) for 20 years. Thanks to Lisa Schroeder of Dell Rapids and many more people; Francis lived a very active life attending his church, shows at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, baseball games in Minneapolis, fishing and stopping at the Madison Police Station daily for a bottle of pop. In 2004 he suffered a stroke and lived in Mitchell at Firesteel Heathcare Center for a short time. He then made his home at Diamond Care Center in Bridgewater. Francis recently returned to Mitchell and was living at Avera Brady Heath and Rehab. Grateful for having shared his life are his mother, Vera Uecker, Mitchell, SD; a brother, Jerry (Davy) Uecker, Mitchell, SD; two nephews, Jeremy (Ashly) Uecker, Artesian, SD, Jason (Bobbi) Uecker, Bryant, SD; five great nieces and nephews, Haeden, Renner, Ruby, Payton and McKenzie. He was preceded in death by his father, Dale Uecker on April 3, 2008.