Juanita "Jennie" Linn Kotak was born January 17, 1937, in Trojan, SD, to Manuel and Ortencia (Deltore) Munoz. She grew up and attended St Patrick's School in Lead, SD, for 6 years and then finished in the Lead public school system. Jennie was proud that she was a "straight A" student. She was a great athlete and played basketball while in school. Jennie graduated from Lead High School in 1955, and joined the United States Marine Corps in 1956.

On March 20, 1957, she married Joseph Kotak. After leaving the Marines, she worked at Piggly Wiggly and later at Lueders store in Spearfish for many years.

Jennie was an avid bowler, a "true blue" Yankees fan, a Denver Broncos fan, and a true Democrat to the end, following the presidential debates even from her hospital bed.

Jennie, 79, Spearfish, died Monday, March 14, 2016, at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Fort Meade.

Jennie is survived by her husband, Joe Kotak, Spearfish; two children, Joseph Kotak, AR, and Karen Kotak, Spearfish; three grandsons, Lance and Jessie James Kotak, AR, and Jacob Kotak, Spearfish; siblings, Michael Munoz, Reno, NV, Vera Iverson, Questa, NM, Margaret Gerbarght, Bison, SD, Mary Lundstrom, Grants, NM, Martha Huffman, Belle Fourche, SD, and Diana Shoemaker, Spearfish; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held Thursday, March17, 2016, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Sturgis, SD, with Father Timothy Castor officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery.

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