GETTYSBURG, SD – 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 10 th 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. (www.familyfuneralhome.net)

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