Gladys M. Rissell

Gladys M. Rissell, 88, of Sioux City passed away Sunday, December 29, 2019 at a local care center.

Services will be held at 7:00 P.M. Friday, January 3, 2020 at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel.  Visitation with the family present will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.  Burial will be at St. John’s Cemetery in Centerville, South Dakota.  Online condolences may be given at www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Gladys was born December 8, 1931 in Garfield Township, Clay County, South Dakota, the daughter of Arnt and Kristofa (Tovik) Nelson.  She graduated from Vermillion High School and attended NBT, a two year tech school.  Gladys married John Rissell on April 18, 1954 in Clay County, South Dakota.  To this union, two daughters were born.  John preceded Gladys in death on September 30, 1999 in Sioux City. 

Gladys was a longtime supervisor for a Tupperware Warehouse.  She loved to bargain shop and often could fix the broken things she bought.  She was very handy, finishing the basement in house, and fixing many small electrical appliances, toys, etc.  She was a wonderful artist, cook, and musician and enjoyed playing the accordion, harmonica, and piano.  She loved spending time with her grandchildren, camping on the weekends, and recusing animals.  Gladys was a member of Morningside Lutheran Church, Scandinavian Club, and the Eagles Clowns.

Gladys is survived by her daughters:  Barb Emmick and Nancy O’Hern (Paul Johnson); grandchildren:  Becky (O’Hern) Ramsey, Catlyn Emmick, Dawson Emmick, Crystal (David) Berger; great grandchildren:  Scarlett Ramsey, Brianna (Dylan) Turner, Sophia Berger, Juliana Berger, and Callen Berger; great great granddaughter Mayci Turner; and several nieces and nephews including her very special niece and traveling companion, Jolynn Nelson and her wife Sarah Henderson.

She was preceded in death by her husband John, parents Arnt and Kristofa Nelson, sisters:  Thelma (Roy) Engstrom, and Pearl (Tony) Kovacic, brothers:  Palmer (Esther) Nelson and Arnold Nelson, grandson Eric Joslin, and son-in-law Larry Emmick.