Izaak Koenig

A Celebration of Life for Izaak Joseph Koenig will be held at 11 a.m., September 11, 2025, at the Community Hall in Fairfax, SD, with Pastor Clark Gies officiating.

Tara Herman and Jaci Rieser will be in charge of registration, and Jim and Kylie Bernt will be in charge of flowers.

Casket bearers are Derek Bentz, Cordell Habben, Cade Burrus, Ira Andrews, Matthew Jons, Andrew Jons, Antonio Guzman, and Garner Burrus. Honorary casket bearers are Izaak’s cousins Andrew, Carter, and Chris Neilan, and Kane and Morgan Swanson.

Interment will be at the Highland Cemetery in Fairfax. Clausen Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Izaak Koenig was born November 4, 2005, in Yankton, SD, to Brad Koenig and Evonne Bentz DeLong. From his younger days of building forts, collecting rocks, and beginning to draw, it was clear he was going to be a tender-hearted, loving person that had a special gift for art, gaming, financial matters, people, and animals.

He welded by day, then welded more and gamed by night, sometimes way late into the night. Not every 19-year-old was able to day-trade cryptocurrency and stocks but Izaak could. He would delve into and research a subject matter he had interest in until he fully understood it. His passion for welding was just beginning to flourish with the amazing sculptures that he built without templates or plans, the welder and torch being powered directly by his creative and artistic mind. His drawings and ideas would blossom into life-size 3D metal sculptures. His whole demeanor would shine when someone would ask about the latest sculpture he was working on. He had so many plans and so much in store for him in the coming years.

Izaak made a profound impact on everyone he met with his creative ideas and tender heart. He will be remembered for his infectious laugh, sideways looks, and gentle spirit as well as his love for his cat Finka, hanging with his closest friends, gaming, art, welding, and most recently, investing.

Izaak Joseph Koenig passed away on September 4, 2025, at the age of 19. After a courageous and prolonged battle with depression and anxiety, Izaak’s pain became too great for him to bear. He is now rejoined with his beloved parakeet Pappy.

His memory as a loving son, brother, cousin, nephew, grandson, and friend will be cherished by his family and friends, especially his parents, Brad (Sonya Wendell) and Evonne & Justin, his siblings Elenna, Ezekiel, and Izaria, Ethan and John, Tori, Madyson and Cason; his grandparents Norbert and Judy Koenig, John Bentz (Laree Pritchett), and Elaine and Scott Angel; his aunts and uncles Derek and Carmalita Bentz, Steve and Kim Koenig, Doug and Lenahe Koenig, and Tammy and Micky Neilan; along with a host of relatives and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Izaak’s memory to Rising Hope Counseling, LLC in Burke, SD, (admin@risinghope. com) or the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (supporting. afsp.com). Other monetary donations may be made directly to the family.

If you or a loved one are struggling with mental health concerns or suicidal thoughts we encourage you to express your feelings to a trusted friend or family member. You may contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline by calling or texting 988 where a trained professional is always available to field your concerns in a confidential way and provide valuable resources to you. You may also text 741741, and a trained volunteer crisis counselor will respond to you, often within minutes. It’s okay to not be okay, just please talk to someone.