Louie Gortmaker

Louie Gortmaker, 79, of Henry, formerly of Miller, died Saturday, December 13 at the Prairie Lakes Healthcare Center in Watertown. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 17 at the First United Methodist Church in Miller with Rev. Mark Johnsen officiating. Visitation will be Tuesday, December 16 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Rembold Funeral Home in St. Lawrence.

Louie Gortmaker was born on October 6th, 1935 to John & Hazel (Gussler) Gortmaker in Hand County on the farm. He grew up in Hand County and attended school through the 8th grade, then helped with the farming. He worked for Lien Construction. He then married Mardella Tiff on January, 4th, 1958 in California. He worked for Smith Tool in California until moving back to Miller, SD in 1958. Louie worked for Meriwether Vet for many years then worked for the Hand County Highway Department until his retirement in 1981 due to health problems. He also helped out at Turtle Creek and the Miller Sale Barn. The Prairie Lakes Hospital Dialysis Unit staff and patients were his second family.

He was a member of United Methodist Church, Miller SD. He loved playing cards, going to the sale barn and spending time with his grandchildren, great grandchildren and was very excited about meeting his first great great granddaughter.

He is lovingly remembered by his wife of 56 years, Mardella Gortmaker of Henry, SD, daughter Roxanne (Fain) Geiger, of Henry, SD, grandchildren, Alyssa (Earl) Rhody of Clear Lake, SD, Kelby (Toni) Goodall, of Henry, SD, great grandchildren Tierra (Brian) Rhody Breese of Watertown, SD, Hayley and Travis Goodall of Henry, SD and soon to be Great Great Granddaughter Zaliah Marie Louise Breese, sisters Rosemary (Lyle) Goodall and Harlan (Jean) Gortmaker of St. Lawrence, SD, Anita (John) Beaner and Shirley (Ed) Sell of Miller, SD, Viloet (Dick) Deuter of Rapid City, SD, Lulabelle (Jack) Shuler of Cody, WY, Pearl (Paul) Schlechter of Orient, SD and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his infant son Randy Gortmaker, parents John and Hazel Gortmaker, sister Karen Ruml, brothers Jackie Gortmaker, Jerry Gortmaker and Benny Gortmaker, an infant sister, sister in law Janice Battest, brother in law Keith Tiff, many nieces and nephews.