Rich A. Stusse

McCook Lake, S.D. | Richard A. "Rich" Stusse, 35 of McCook Lake, SD, died Saturday at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, after a courageous battle with leukemia. Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Rev. Craig Collison officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation with the family present will be 4:30-8:00 p.m. Tuesday and a vigil service at 7:00 p.m., at Sacred Heart Church. Condolences may be sent online at www.meyerbroschapels.com. Rich was born Oct. 4, 1978 in Sioux City, the son of Allen and Cindy (Fortin) Stusse. He graduated from East High School in 1997. On Sept. 18, 2004 he married Jill Kittler at Sacred Heart Church. Together they made their home in McCook Lake, SD. They have been blessed with 3 beautiful children, Ashlynn, Alexis, and Brecken. Rich enjoyed playing video games, loved arts, and music. He was a devoted husband and father, and loved his family. He was a sports enthusiast and enjoyed playing and watching his children's activities. He was an avid Nebraska Cornhusker fan, which he made known to all who knew him. Rich was employed at Ziegler CAT, where his coworkers became his extended family. His warm heart and contagious smile will be missed by all. Survivors include his wife, Jill Stusse of McCook Lake, SD; 3 children, Ashlynn (7), Alexis (4), and Brecken (3); parents, Allen and Cindy Stusse of Hinton, IA; brother, Ryan (Marni) Stusse of Hinton, IA; 2 sisters, Renae (Justin) Rouhoff of Nashville, TN and Randi (John) Steger of Des Moines, IA; maternal grandmother, Betty Fortin of Sioux City, IA; paternal grandparents, Don and Joyce Stusse of Le Mars, IA; parents-in-law, Ivan and Sharon Kittler of McCook Lake, SD; 2 brothers-in-law, Bill (Carey) Kittler of New Ulm, MN and Randy (Tracie) Kittler of McCook Lake, SD; and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Gilbert Fortin, aunt, Linda Richter and sister-in-law, Jodi Kittler. Pallbearers will be Gary Anderson, Charlie Harrington, Ben Kittler, Jayse Kittler, Travis Slifka and Wesley Holdenried. Honorary pallbearers will be Easton Stusse, Nick Rouhoff, Jaden Kittler, Jacob Rouhoff and Andrew Rouhoff. A special thank you to all medical staff at Mercy Medical Center and UNMC for their care and support.