May 2, 1966 ~ May 8, 2013

Daniel Jay Dammer, 47, of Sioux Falls, went to be with Jesus, his Lord and Savior, after losing his battle with Esophageal Cancer on Wednesday, May 8, 2013, at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls.

Visitation and funeral services will be held at Celebrate Community Church main campus in Sioux Falls at 16th & Sycamore Avenue.

Visitation will be held Monday, May 13, 2013, from 7-9 pm at Celebrate Community Church in Sioux Falls. Funeral services will begin at 11:00am, Tuesday, May 14, at Celebrate Community Church with Pastor Keith Loy officiating. Interment will follow at Hills of Rest Cemetery, Sioux Falls.

Daniel J. Dammer was born on May 2, 1966, in Sioux Falls to Carl and Darlene (Rupkalvis) Dammer. He was raised and educated in Sioux Falls for the entirety of his youth. Dan was a 1984 graduate of Lincoln High School. On June 1, 1985, Dan married his high school sweetheart, Angie Brincks. The two of them met while employed at Kentucky Fried Chicken. Their Holy Union was blessed with 4 beautiful children.

Dan was an avid Nebraska Cornhuskers fan and enjoyed taking his family to Lincoln, NE for a game or simply hosting game day football parties at his home. Dan also enjoyed watching NASCAR races with all of his favorite boys. Dan also cherished the memories made on family vacations; he had a special love for the beach. Trips to Disney World were enchanted moments; he loved to see the magic in his family’s eyes. While in high school, Dan picked up the hobby of photography. This passion carried over into his adult life. Capturing every precious moment was important to him.

Dan spent over 35 years in the restaurant industry. Although food was an important part of the business, his true passion was people. He lived to serve those around him. Being with and enjoying family was a priority to Dan. His love for family extended well beyond his nuclear family. He had a true passion and love for all people. Throughout his many years and positions in leadership, he was always a great mentor and teacher and he always had an ear or shoulder for anyone. His love for people was most apparent through his Caring Bridge site which became a type of daily devotional for many. Through his daily writings, Dan ministered to hundreds and brought many to an initial or renewed relationship with Christ. While battling a daunting foe in cancer, spreading God’s Word became his mission and greatest priority. Dan was recently described as a “giant of a man.” This was true about so many aspects of him. He was large in stature, had enormous love for all people, carried the biggest heart of any man, and was a colossal example of what it meant to live life looking out for others.

Dan will be deeply missed by his lovely wife, Angie (of 27 years in marriage); 4 amazing children – Jacob Dammer, Sioux Falls; Lacey and Jason Gervais, and son Chase, Sioux Falls; Gabriel and Grace Dammer, Sioux Falls; His mom and dad, Carl and Darlene Dammer, Sioux Falls; Angie’s parents, Jerry and Jeannie Brincks, Sioux Falls; three brothers, Todd and Nan Dammer, Sioux Falls; Terry Dammer, Sioux Falls; Russ and Kim Dammer, Parker, CO; half-sister Deb Mofle, Chaska, MN; sister, Aimee and Dan Roehrs, San Antonio, TX; & a host of aunts, uncles, and cousins and precious friends.

May 18, 1940 ~ April 27, 2013

Joseph “Joe” F. Garner, 72, Sioux Falls, died Saturday, April 27, 2013, at the Sioux Falls VA Hospital, from lung cancer.

Visitation will begin at 5 pm, Thursday, May 9, 2013, at Heartland Funeral Home, Brandon, with a Memorial services at 6:30pm. Chaplin Karen Hiller will officiate. Full Military Honors will follow.

Joseph Franklin Garner was born May 18, 1940, in Oklahoma City, OK, to Joseph and Velma (Stewart) Garner. He was one of two boys with four sisters. He was educated in Oklahoma until he left for the service during high school. Joe served in the US Army from 1957 to 1960 as a Medical Specialist, Dental Assistant and Medical Assistant. Joe returned to Gillette, WY when he was honorably discharged from the Army as his family had moved there. Joe worked in the oil fields, was a driver to haul pharmaceuticals from Casper, WY to Billings, MT, a 3,000 mile a week trip.

Joe moved to Sioux Falls in 2003 as he felt it was important for Miriam to be back in South Dakota; at home surrounded by her family. He worked for the last six and a half years at the Casey’s General Store on Sycamore Avenue until he became ill. Joe enjoyed his customers and work very much.

Joe is survived by his loving wife, Miriam, Sioux Falls; one son, Vince, Klamath Falls, OR; two step-sons, Jeff (Rhonda) Whempner and Steve Whempner, both of Phoenix, AZ; one step-daughter, Lisa (Charles) Stotz, Dunkirk, MD; seven step-grandchildren; four sisters, Gwen Sullivan, Pine Haven, WY, Sue De Gaugh, Kay (Les) Haight, and Anita William, all of Gillette, WY; and one brother, Mike (Alvina) Garner, of Gillette, WY.

Joe was preceded by his parents in death.

April 30, 1964 ~ April 26, 2013

Cora Mae Gann, 48, Sioux Falls, died Friday April, 26th 2013, at home surrounded by her family, after an amazing fight with illness.

Visitation will begin at 4 pm, Monday, April 29, 2013, at Heartland Funeral Home with family present from 5 until 8 pm. Funeral services will begin at 11 am, Tuesday, April 30, at Heartland Funeral Home, with Muriel Plooster officiating. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Sioux Falls.

Cora Mae Gann was born on April 30, 1964, in Rock Rapids, IA, to Osey and Dona (Overgaard) Gann. Cora loved life and all the beauty it had to offer. She gave so much passion in the things she believed in. She loved butterflies, birds, trees, antiquing, rummaging, sports and going camping, but her main love was her family and friends.
Cora worked at John Morrell for many years and part time at the arena. She then worked at Lamps and Shades as a warehouse manager and continued helping them with what she could up to the present. Whatever she did in life, she worked very hard at.

There was always excitement in Cora’s smile when she could add to her collection of marbles and Coke items. She loved sharing many of these “treasures” with loved ones. Cora would state that she was twice blessed in life because of the people she shared it with.

Throughout her life and despite her illness, Cora was a role model to all of those who were blessed to know her. She enjoyed the simple beauties in life and loved the motto “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.”

Cora is survived by her son, Armando (Samantha) Gann; her best friend Beth Connelly and son Travis (Shelbey) Connelly; her foster parents, Jim and Cathy LeDuc, Sioux Falls; five brothers, Tim Gann, TX, Bobbi Gann, TX, Jeff Gann, Sioux City, IA, Charles Gann, Sioux Falls, and Harry Trotter, Sioux City, IA; three sisters, Jeanne Gann, Sioux Falls, Patty Gann, TX, Susie Gann, Sioux City, IA; one sister-in-law, Cammy Bladow; four grandsons who she loved being Grandma to, Damien, Gabriel, Reece and Mathias; Cora emotionally adopted her “girls,” Samantha Ladson and Shelbey Slendy who considered Cora “Mom“. Also special to Cora was the family she found in the Connelly gang, and her Grandsons’ mom, Jamie Gann.

August 13, 1929 ~ April 23, 2013

Kenneth M. Smykle, 83, Valley Springs, died Tuesday, April 23, 2013, at the Sanford Hospice Cottage in Sioux Falls from the effects of Dementia and Lymphoidema.

Visitation will begin at 4pm, Friday, April 26, 2013, at Heartland Funeral Home, with family present from 6:30 to 8pm. Funeral services will begin at 1:30pm, Saturday, April 27, at Heartland Funeral Home with Pastor Richard Gilman officiating. Interment at Beaver Valley Church South Cemetery with full Military Rites will follow.

Kenneth M. Smykle was born August 13, 1929 in Sioux Falls to Art and Dena (Iwerks) Smykle. Along with two sisters, he was raised and educated in Sioux Falls through his sophomore year before he hopped a train and went to Idaho to work in the Forestry Service. In 1947, Ken enlisted in the military to serve in Korea; both in the National Guard and then the Army. Upon his discharge in 1951, he returned to Sioux Falls to work for John Morrell where he worked for 36 years as a meat cutter. Back in 1959, Ken married his sweetheart, Joyce Schnackenbereg in Pipestone MN. They moved to a farm near Chancellor for a while before the family returned to Brandon for 24 years. In 1992, Ken and Joyce purchased and moved to the acreage south of Beaver Valley Church where they still reside. Ken retired at the age of 56 and came home to become the family daycare to grandchildren and his mother-in-law.

Throughout his life, Ken never forgot his patriotic service and duty and was very proud of it. He joined the Sioux Falls VFW and then transferred to Brandon later. He served as the Post Commander and the Quartermaster for Brandon. He also served as the District 2 Commander for SD.

Most of all, Ken enjoyed his family. They spent many weekends together camping with friends from Morrells’ or on hunting trips together. He loved to hunt antelope, deer and pheasant with the boys. He also would bleed blue and orange for the Chicago Bears and cheered on only the Fords of Davey Allison and “Awesome Bill from Dawsonville” Bill Elliott in the Nascar races.

Ken is survived by his wife, Joyce; five children, Clay (Michele) Smykle, Brandon, Deb (Curt) Jasper, Oak Grove, MN, Greg (Yvonne) Smykle, Sioux Falls, Mark (Mindy) Smykle, Akron, IA, and Linda (Joel) Hanson, Valley Springs; twelve grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and one sister, Donna Smelser, Sioux Falls.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Troy; one sister, Lillian and two infant children Michael and Kimberley.

December 5, 1946 ~ April 19, 2013

Gene H. Swanson, 66, Valley Springs, died Friday, April 19, 2013, at the Dougherty Hospice Home in Sioux Falls, from the effects of Agent Orange.

Memorial services will begin at 10 AM, Tuesday, April 23, 2013, at Heritage Lutheran Church of Brandon, with Pastors Jerry Merkouris and Richard Gilman officiating. Full Military Honors will follow. Visitation will begin one hour prior. Private inurnment will take place at a later date at Beaver Valley Lutheran Cemetery.

Gene Howard Swanson was born December 5, 1946, in Sioux Falls to Howard and Dorothy (Rollag) Swanson. He was raised and educated in Valley Springs and graduated from Brandon Valley High School in 1964. He then attended USD until his enlistment in the US Army in 1966 for Viet Nam.

Upon his return and discharge in 1968, he resided in California for approximately 3 years. In January 1970, Gene married Reene Van Beek and their first of three children was born soon after. After experiencing a couple of earthquakes, Gene and his family moved back to Valley Springs, where he worked for Bauma Construction and the Brandon Lumber Yard before accepting the city Maintenance Supt. for Valley Springs in 1977. Gene mowed grass and plowed snow for eighteen years before he retired due to health issues. He also served on the Valley Springs Volunteer Fire Dept. for twenty years, including several as Chief. Gene met his sweetheart, Kathy Tupy, and in 1998, they were married at the Beaver Valley Lutheran Church.

Everyone who knew Gene knew he was a constant joker and loved to tease people. He knew everyone’s name around Valley Springs, their kids, and their parents and where they lived and how long they had lived there. Gene was a very active and busy person who loved to read, hunt, fish, golf, follow Nascar, riding and trial racing motorcycles, playing cards and travel. Road trips to Phoenix or anywhere else were a favorite pastime. Gene was also very proud of his service to his country and enjoyed going to Pierre to view the Viet Nam Memorial. His family was his most loved and prized treasure though. Wednesday nights were family night at his home and everyone came to eat dinner and play cards, Trivial Pursuit or Jeopardy together. “Papa” was also a “snuggler” with the kids and grandkids. The treat was to hop into bed with him and cuddle before going to sleep or when they first awoke in the morning. He was also known by the kids for his distribution of chewing gum.

Gene was a Lifetime member of the SD Fire Chief’s Association, Valley Springs Fire Dept, Valley Springs American Legion, V.F.W. Three Rivers Post 4726 of Brandon, and Spirit of Truth Lutheran Church.

Gene is survived by his wife Kathy; five children, Owen (Deanna) Swanson, Valley Springs, Zach Swanson, Currie, MN, Sony (Nate) Swanson, Garretson, Sarah (Donn) Loe, Willmar, MN, and Kevin (Delena) Tupy, Brandon; and twelve grandchildren, Taia, Curtis, Dominik, Danny, Savannah, Tyler, Molly, Gavin, Caitlin, Dustin, Maxwell, and Reyna; one brother-in-law, Larry Lape, Valley Springs; many special nieces and nephews, and one very special friend and second mother to Gene, Etoyle Aljets.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Randy, and one sister, Kathy Lape.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established.