Donald Rissmann
September 6, 1930 ~ September 12, 2008
Donald Laverne Rissmann, 78, of Highmore, died Friday, September 12, 2008 at the Highmore Healthcare Center.
Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, September 17, 2008 at Our Savior Lutheran Church, Highmore with Pastor David Peterson officiating. Burial was in the Highmore Cemetery with military honors, directed by Luze Funeral Home of Highmore. Visitation was held from 4:00 to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, September 16 with a 7:30 p.m. prayer service at the church.
Donald was born September 6, 1930 in Aberdeen to Otto and Bernice (Chase) Rissmann. He attended country school through the eighth grade and graduated from Ipswich High School on May 26, 1948.
He was drafted into the Korean War. He received his basic training n Fort Riley, Kansas on August 23, 1949 before being flown to Korea in January of 1950. In September of 1952, he received his honorable discharge.
After coming home from the war, Donald married Doris K. Merkel on October 19, 1953 in Bowdle. To this union, three children were born: Sandra, Bonnie and Cheryl. The first three years of their marriage they lived in Seneca where Don managed the PV Elevator. They then moved to Gettysburg where they made their home and farmed. They continued to farm until they purchased a farm/ranch operation in 1970 in Highmore. They operated their farm/ranch as a husband and wife team until July of 2000 when Doris died of cancer. Don continued to farm until 2005 when he finally retired from farming.
Don enjoyed farming and visiting with family and friends. He was very proud of his farm crops as well as receiving the award at the 27th annual Soil and Moisture Achievement Program Award in 1977. He took great pride in making his home comfortable and nice looking for his family.
He was a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church and the Ree Heights American Legion Post #101.
Grateful to have shared his life are his three daughters: Sandi (Charlie) Loiseau of Frankfort, Kansas, Bonnie (Mick) Mortellaro of Philip, and Cheryl (Max) Gregg of Holabird; seven grandchildren: Jessica (Donny) Armstrong of Frankfort, Kansas, Jody Loiseau of Frankfort, Kansas, CJ (Courtney) Loiseau of Vliets, Kansas, Michael and Megan Mortellaro of Philip, and Kendra and Nicole Gregg of Holabird; five great grandchildren: Ethan, Isabel, Lydia, Lane and Loralei; one sister, Dorothy Schneider of Java; and one brother, Kenneth (Irene) Rissmann of Ipswich.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Doris; one grandchild, Douglas Mortellaro; infant sister, Mary Ruth; three brother-in-laws: Ted Schneider, Ed Mastel, and Albert Merkel; and two sister-in-laws: Gloria Merkel and Althea Armstrong.
Luze Funeral Home of Highmore has been entrusted with Don's arrangements.
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Cheryl
I’ve enjoyed the time spent with your dad and enjoyed getting to know him. He kept me on my toes. I will miss him. Our prayers are with you and your family.
Peg and Joey
May God’s love comfort you in your time of sorrow. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. The Knox’s Doug, Mary, Grace & Mason
Cheryl & Family,
Im so sad to read about the passing of your Dad. I truly enjoyed your Dad. He always had time to visit and give a person a little grief. I thought when I seen you at the Lodge Saturday afternoon you didn’t seem like your self now I know why. My you all find comfort in knowing that your Dad is in heaven dancing with your Mother now. He will be missed by many. Your in our thoughts and prayers.
Tim, Kathy, Matt, & McKenzee
Family Did’nt talk to Don much,but wish I could have. Wendy came to know him at the Health Care Center and had nothing but good things to say about him. Just want to to give you our sympahy. May GOD bless him. Bret & Wendy Bloomenrader PS What wonderful crop’he grow on this planet.
Sandi, Bonnie, and Cheryl,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. I always enjoyed getting to visit with Don when he would come out to Philip to see Bonnie’s family. He seemed like such a gentle, quiet farmer. I am sure he will be missed.
Sincerely,
Brad and Debbie Schofield
Bonnie,
We were so saddened to hear of the loss of your father. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your whole family. Try to take care of yourselves.
Miles, Jessica, Rachel and Elise Wheeler
My deepest sympathies to you all. Don has a very special place in my heart. I got to know him through therapy and we continued to “shoot the breeze” even after he was discharged from my services. He always asked about my family and of course if I rode my Harley over from Pierre. His wise cracks always made me smile and I always had a hug for him. He was a very special man that will be missed by all of us at the Care Center.
Sharon Hoelscher, Speech Therapist
Our thought and prayers are with you during this time.
Our Deepest Sympathy,
Doug, Darnell, Delaney and Drysta
Schneider
Rissman family,
We are so sorry for your loss, Don was such a great person. He always made us laugh everytime he came over to our place. Please know your family is in our thoughts and prayers.
The Wurts’
Michael, Heather, Logan & Cade
Roger & Linda
Sandy, Bonnie , and Cheryl,
Sorry to hear your Dad is not here with us anymore. He was such a wonderful person and I so loved visiting with him. He will be missed at the nursing home and in our hearts. He always told things like they were. He made me laugh. He was the best farmer in south Hyde County everyone tried to keepup with him. may God bless you, keep your memories close in your hearts they are wonderful. He did not enjoy not being productive so he is farming upstairs now. Keeping the work done.
God Bless your family we are keeping you in our prayers.
Loren Edith Wheelhouse and family
Thinking of you all at this difficult time.
I just wanted to take the time to say what a wonderful person Don was. I had the pleasure of getting to know him ever since I started working at the Highmore Healthcare Center.
He throughly enjoyed watching my baby in the evenings when I worked late or helped serve supper.
My Sympathy goes out to all the family and Don will truly be missed!!
I just watched the life tribute video and can not stop the tears from falling. They are tears of saddness, joy and peace. What a handsome young man your father was! I had never seen pictures of him that young. Then there are the Hard working years of farming and the sure sign of that is the farmers tan, seed hats, and bib overalls! He loved his work and was very good at it, he loved Doris and his girls very much and his grandchildren brought a special joy to him which was evedent in the tribute. He had a strong faith which in part was strengthened by his work as a farmer, he looked the happiest when working the land. I would have loved to hear the story in the one picture of him pointing out his window and talking to a grandchild! Oh, the memories you will cherish, although painful now, in time will ease your sorrow.Peace Be To Your FAmily. Susan and family
You are in our thoughts and prayers at this very difficult time. We were so fortunate to get to know Don while he was here in Frankfort. Craig loved talking with him when he would stop to deliver the mail. He will be missed. With Love – Craig, Lyndsi, and Eli