Mass of Christian Burial for Kenneth Lee Gisi of Ipswich will be at 10:30 AM, Friday, November 22, 2024, at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 20 6th Street, Ipswich, SD, with Fr. Timothy Cone serving as Celebrant. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 PM with a Liturgical Wake Service and Rosary at 7:00 PM on Thursday, November 21, 2024, at Schriver Funeral Home, 720 N. 6th Street, Ipswich, SD. Visitation continues Friday at 9:30 AM at the church.
Kenneth Lee Gisi was born in Aberdeen, SD on September 15, 1941, to Albert and Ilene (Adler) Gisi. Ken left for his last fishing trip surrounded by loved ones on November 12, 2024. He was the oldest of 10 children and he kept busy helping his dad on the farm. He graduated from Leola High School in 1959 and then enlisted in the United States Army. He was eventually stationed in Germany for 2 years as a helicopter mechanic with the 41st Transportation Battalion, 30th Transportation Company. Even though he wasn’t a pilot, he found ways to fly helicopters. He told people that they needed to fly them to know what they had to fix. Ken was honorably discharged from the army on November 30, 1965. After 3 years of active service, he enlisted in the Army Reserve, serving 3 more years. When he returned to South Dakota, Ken began driving semi trucks. He was out with friends one night when he met the love of his life, Willa. She didn’t know him at the time, but he knew her! They were married in June of 1966 in Ipswich, SD, and Ken worked several different jobs before going back to driving truck. He purchased a semi and ran Gisi Trucking for 12 years. He enjoyed his time on the road and the people he met.
Ken and Willa have 3 children: Steve, Michelle and Kathy. When he wasn’t busy working, he would enjoy watching all of their sporting activities. Ken had a sense of humor and a way about him that will be greatly missed by all who knew him. He enjoyed deer and antelope hunting and took many trips with his friends and his son, Steve, to the Black Hills. However, the one thing that he absolutely loved to do was to go fishing. Ken and Willa, after years of tenting with friends, bought a home in Akaska. It was their second home for over 40 years. He could drive to the docks on the Missouri River blindfolded. He could predict “the bite” by the direction and strength of the wind, temperature, or if the cows were eating or not. If they weren’t biting in one spot, he didn’t stay there long before he would find a better place to fish. He enjoyed taking friends, grandkids and other family members out on his boat to fish. After a long day of fishing, he loved cooking the day’s catch, or making ribs on the smoker. Every summer for several years, he and Willa hosted potluck cookouts and all were welcome. They met many new friends. He didn’t allow the cold weather to stop his fishing. When the boat was winterized, it was time to get the ice shack ready for the winter bite and he continued to ice fish on the river. They sold their Akaska home after his health began to decline. He continued to fish with friends as long as his health would allow. Everyone who fished with Ken knew the only fish that would be allowed to be kept in the boat was a walleye. In his spare time, Ken, who took after his own father, Albert, made wooden gifts for his family. Bird houses were his specialty. He loved to tinker in his woodshop. He enjoyed fixing mowers, and tinkering with anything that needed fixing. He could jimmyrig with the best of them. After retiring, he worked with his brother, Gary making pheasant crates and taking road trips to deliver them. He greatly enjoyed spending time with his brother.
His best buddy Ribeye “Ribbie” came to him at Christmas 2022. Ken would never have claimed to be a cat person, so he shocked us all when he asked for a kitten for Christmas! He often gave him tastes of whatever he was eating or drinking. He even sprayed butter on his hard kibble because he was worried it would hurt his mouth when he ate it. They took naps together every afternoon. Ribbie was a great source of both fun and comfort for him.
Ken was preceded in death by his brother Harvey, his sister Bonnie, brothers in law Arnie and Roy and his parents.
Ken shared his life with his wife of 58 years, Willa; children Steve (Nicole) Gisi of Ipswich, SD; Michelle (Terry) Wolf of Sioux Falls, SD; and Kathy (Pat Gross) Mitzel of Aberdeen, SD. His grandchildren: Mark Gisi of Canyon, Texas; Isaac Maggie and Sam Wolf of Sioux Falls, SD; Jacob Wolf of Dallas, TX and Erica Mitzel of Sioux Falls, SD; brother Gary Gisi of Mina, SD; sisters: Diana Hauck of Ipswich, SD; MaryLou (Ed) Evans, of St. George, Utah; Margie (Gordie) Hamak of Ipswich, SD; Charlene (Delbert) Schrum of Eureka, SD; Cheryl (Joe) Vogel of Ipswich, SD and Mardell (Gayland) Weisenburger of Aberdeen, SD and numerous nieces and nephews. Ribbie will also miss his napping and snacking buddy.
The family would like to extend their extreme gratitude to Dr. Lyle Biegler and the Avera Hospice staff for the loving care they provided to Ken and Willa.
In loving memory of Ken, whose passion for fishing brought him joy and peace, family and friends are invited to celebrate his life by wearing fishing shirts at the wake.
Schriver Funeral Home is honored to serve the Gisi family.
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