Semrad, Robert Joseph (1944 - 2023)

SEMRAD, BOHARTY, GAARD

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 7/4/2023 at 18:11:21

Name of deceased: Robert Joseph Semrad

Aged: 78 yrs, 10 mo, 22 days

Residence: Brookings, SD

Born: June 11, 1944; Olympia, Thurston County, WA

Died: May 3, 2023; Brookings, Brookings County, SD

Funeral services: Monday, May 8, 2023; First United Methodist Church, Brookings, SD.

Survived by: Wife, Jeanne; son, Rex (spouse, Marion) of Owensboro, KY; daughter, Charlotte (spouse, Trayce) of Bushnell, SD; grandchildren, Rexford, Ethan, Trey (spouse, Regina), Isaac, Lilly (spouse, Max), Chase (spouse, Lauren), Danielle, Gavin and Asher; great-grandchildren, Marilyn and Leo.

Predeceased by: Parents, Joseph Albert and Margaret (nee Bohaty) Semrad; grandsons, Rexford II and John

Education: Graduated from Harlan Central High School in Harlan, IA with the Class of 1962. He continued his education at South Dakota State College before transferring to the University of Montana where he graduated in 1967. After his military service, he attended and graduated from Multnomah School of the Bible, Portland, OR, and returned to South Dakota where he worked for the Job Service as a disabled Vietnam Era Veteran outreach person while completing a Master of Education degree at South Dakota State University. He kept pursuing educational interests and attended SDSU, graduating in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in visual arts, and again in 2021 with a Bachelor of Finer Arts from SDSU School of Design.

Religious affiliation: no information provided

Military service: After his high school graduation in 1967, he entered the U. S. Air Force and attended pilot premium advanced air force base Oklahoma. His first assignment as a pilot was in 19th special operations squadron Tonsil Knute Airbase, Republic of Vietnam. He flew over 1000 combat sorties. After his tour in Vietnam, he flew C-141 aircraft for 5 years from McGuire Air Force Base, NJ, and Norton Air Force Base, California. After an honorable discharge, he attended North American Baptist Seminary and graduated in 1981. In 1997, he entered the Air Force Reserve as a chaplain and served in that capacity for 18 years. He retired in 2005 with the rank of Chaplain Colonel.

Marriage: Jeanne Gaard; 1965; location not provided

Employment: For most of his adult life, Bob was in the military or acquiring advanced educational degrees. After his initial service in the Air Force, he attended and graduated from Multnomah School of the Bible, Portland, OR and then returned to South Dakota to work for the Job Service as a disabled Vietnam Era Veteran outreach person, while also completing a Master of Education at South Dakota State Uniersity. He then opened a Snelling and Snelling franchise in Brookings, SD. He sold the franchise to go to the North American Baptist Seminary and graduated in 1981. Upon ordination, he served churches in Yankton, Gayville-Volin, Harrisburg, Big Stone City, Revillo, Henry, Hazel, Kellerton, Milbank Parkview, Madison, and Fairmount, ND and Bethany UMC ND. In 1997, he entered the Air Force Reserve as a chaplain and served in that capacity for 18 years. He retired in 2005 with the rank of a Chaplain Colonel.

Hobbies/Interests: During his retirement Bob played with art, painting with watercolors, oils, pastels, and sculpting in wood, stone and metals; he was active in civic organizations including community theater, Toastmasters, the Brookings Art Council, SD Art Museum Guild and service organizations such as Kiwanis, Lions and Rotary International, American Legion, VFW, DAV and VVA.

Sources: harlanonline.com