Glen Emmert

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Glen W. Emmert, 88, of Gettysburg, passed away Saturday, March 23, 2024, at Avera Oahe Manor, Gettysburg. 

Funeral Mass will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, April 8, 2024, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Gettysburg, with Fr. Brian Simon officiating. A rosary will be prayed 15 minutes prior to the funeral mass. Burial will follow in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery, Gettysburg, with military honors.

Glen Wayne Emmert was born September 10, 1935, in Watertown SD, to Walter and Inga (Jorgensen) Emmert. Glen attended Watertown School through the 10th grade. For his junior and senior year, he went to Brookings, SD State School of Ag so he had more time to help his dad on the farm.  As the son of a progressive farmer and entrepreneur, Glen put in long hours and rarely had a day off.  At age12, he drove a semi loaded with cattle to Minneapolis and already knew how to run about every kind of machinery on the farm. All work and no play wasn’t the life he dreamed of, so he decided to spread his wings in search of other career opportunities.  Glen joined the Army in 1954. He went to Basic Training in Ft. Leonard Wood, MO, and completed 12 weeks of Engineering School at Ft. Belvoir, VA.  When he was stationed in Germany, it took him a week to get there by boat.   After being honorably discharged in 1957, Glen started working for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company which allowed him to maintain a harmonious relationship between work and his family. Being a young retiree in 1985, he was able to experience a variety of job opportunities. With his wife, Jan, they bought The Shoe Shed. Along with selling boots and shoes, he had quite the knack for making an old, raggedy pair of boots look new by adding new heels, soles, leather patches, and a little polish.  During his retirement years, he also worked for farmers, did crop adjusting, and fixed radiators in his backyard barn. 

Glen met the love of his life, Janice Marie Kessler, and married her on May 3, 1958. They had 38 years together before Janice passed away. Together they were blessed with six children: David, Sandy, Jackie, Julie, Mark, and Jodie. He was so proud to raise six hardworking kids that all love and support each other, which makes for fun family get-togethers. Although he was a great father, he told how he never changed a diaper! (It’s a good thing he had great neighbors to help him out!) Glen and Jan were involved parents who loved to take their family fishing almost every weekend at Lake Oahe in a little camper. It was important to them to have consistent family meals together, take yearly vacations, attend all their children’s activities and ball games, and make church a priority. The real excitement came when the grandchildren started coming.  To some he was known as Grandpa Brutus or Papa Piggy (since he didn’t wear socks).  He lived by his bumper sticker that said, “If I would have known grandchildren were this much fun, I would have had them first.”  Working for the telephone company really did help him achieve that well-balanced work/home life he was searching for which provided a great upbringing for his family. 

He always made time for fun. In his younger years, he spent many hours on his Harley motorcycle. He enjoyed having friends over, fishing, hunting, gardening, and grilling.  Being the Grand Knight was an honor he was very proud of.  As he got older, his coffee crew and scooter club kept him active. He will be remembered for the big smile he wore so well. 

Glen is survived by his sons: David (Priscilla) Emmert, Mitchell, SD, and Mark (Theresa) Emmert, Lincoln, NE; daughters: Sandra Wager and Jackie Hanson, both of Gettysburg, Julie (Jim) Fleck, Mandan, ND, and Jodie (Jeff) Miles, Conde, SD; 15 grandchildren: Melissa (Jon) Schied, Kerry (Rachel) Wager, Katie (Steve) Abbas, Kimberlee Emmert (Jody Lockwood), John (Dezirae) Emmert, Joe (Stephanie) Emmert, Jason (Keri) Hanson, Brittany (Jeremy) Luder, Travis Fleck, Tony (Liz) Fleck, Morgan (Andrew) Schmidt, Brooke (Kishan) Gunesh, Brady Miles, Bailey (Garrett) Masat, and Libbey Miles; 22 great grandchildren; sister, Helen Gisselbeck, Watertown; and brothers-in law and sisters-in-law: Ed (Joanne) Kessler, Bernice Wald, Marv Luoma, Carol Moffenbier, Dale (Linda) Kessler, and Carol Kessler. 

Glen was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Inga Emmert; wife, Janice; sister, Doris Quigley; and son-in-law, Dean Hanson.

Memorials in honor of Glen may be directed to the Avera Oahe Manor, 700 E Garfield Ave, Gettysburg, SD 57442.

Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg has been entrusted with Glen’s arrangements.