Willard Erwin GISEL

GISEL, GARRETSON, NELSON, REED

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/10/2010 at 20:16:07

February 23, 1929 -- October 2, 2010

VENTURA, IA - Willard Erwin Gisel, 81, Ventura, died Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010, in the Hancock County Medical Hospital, Britt. A Graveside service will be at 2 p.m., Friday Oct. 8, at the Elmwood Cemetery, Renwick, Iowa, with the Rev. Daird Korth officiating. Military honors will be provided by Harvey-McPeak American Legion Post No. 289. Visitation with family will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 7, at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. 4th St., Clear Lake, Iowa. According to his wishes, his body has been cremated. Memorials may be given to the Willard Gisel Memorial Fund.

Willard was born on Feb. 23, 1929, in Andrew, Iowa, the son of Robert John and Gladys Marie (Garretson) Gisel. He graduated from Ventura High School in 1946 where he was an all-state basketball player and earned a college degree from the University of Northern Iowa in education. He taught and coached at Randall, Iowa, for one year. Willard married Gladys Nelson on June 17, 1951, in Renwick, Iowa. He was drafted into the U.S. Army on July 1, 1951, and served in the Army Intelligence Department during the Korean War. Following an honorable discharge in 1953, he worked in the family hardware business in Ventura, and then opened a hardware store in Willowbrook Mall in Mason City. He served on the Cerro Gordo County Board of Supervisors from 1978 to 1990 and on the Clear Lake Sanitary District Board from 1991 to 2004. He was a member of the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Ventura, the American Legion, the Cerro Gordo County Landfill Board and longtime member of the Ventura Protective Association. Following retirement, he enjoyed going to Florida to visit their family. He was an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan, enjoyed bowling, golfing, fishing, playing bridge and making wine for over 40 years.

Willard is survived by his wife, Gladys Gisel, Ventura, Iowa; one son Jeffrey R. Gisel and his wife Karen, Oviedo, Fla., daughter-in-law Donna Reed, Niceville, Fla., four grandchildren, Tiffany Marie Gisel, Stephanie Anne Gisel, Jeffrey Steven Gisel and Andrew Robert Gisel. Willard was preceded in death by his parents, son Steven, and granddaughter Jennifer Gisel. Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. 4th St., Clear Lake, IA.

Mason City Globe Gazette - Iowa
October 5, 2010