James Everett Jake Kleinsasser, age 50, of Mitchell, SD died Saturday, February 14, 2009 at Avera Queen of Peace Hospital. Funeral service will be 10:30 AM Wednesday February 18, 2009 at the First United Methodist Church with burial at Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 PM Tuesday at the Will Funeral Chapel.

James Everett Kleinsasser, son of Jerome and Harriet (Elhoff) Kleinsasser, was born July 29, 1958 in Rapid City, SD. He grew up in Brookings, SD where he graduated from Brookings High School in 1976. After graduation he met and married Peggy Jo Ullom on May 1, 1982 in Brookings, SD. The couple then lived in Flandreau, SD where Jake worked as a bartender. In 1987, they moved to Mitchell where he attended and graduated from Mitchell Tech with a degree in electrical maintenance. Jake was employed at Coates Electric as an electrician for 19 years. In 2008, Jake started his employment at AKG in the maintenance department. He continued this work there until the time of his illness.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Peggy Jo Kleinsasser, Mitchell, SD; five children, James J. Kleinsasser, Mitchell, SD, Jennifer Kleinsasser, Ethan, SD, Travis J. Kleinsasser, Mitchell, SD, Sara L. Kleinsasser, Mitchell, SD, Austin J. Kleinsasser, Mitchell, SD; four grandchildren; his parents, Jerome and Harriet Kleinsasser, Brookings, SD; a brother, Rex Evan Kleinsasser, Longmont, CO.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Isaac and Emma Kleinsasser, and Fred Elhoff and Jessie Elhoff.