John Stanley Nussbaum

John Nussbaum, age 64, of Garretson, son of Eugene and Hanna (Holmstrom) Nussbaum, died on Monday, July 7, 2008. John was born on February 5, 1944, and he was survived by his loving wife Debra, his brother Eugene and his sister Mary; his five children, Todd, Dawn, Troy, Hana and Jaci; three step children, his eleven grandchildren, his eight nieces and nephews and his many cousins, aunts and uncles too numerous to count.

John’s life not only enriched his family but all those who were lucky enough to call him a friend. John was born and raised in Garretson, South Dakota and after finishing school, and his service in the military reserve, he went on to fulfill a life rich in accomplishment. He was a dedicated Law Enforcement Officer in Iowa and South Dakota. He worked to support his family at John Morrells for nine years before venturing out to succeed as a successful entrepreneur as the owner and operator of a successful food and lodging business in Prescott Valley, Arizona.

In time he moved back to his hometown of Garretson, South Dakota, married his soulmate and built his dream home on the banks of the river that runs through the farm that has been in his family for generations, while still having time to work at McKennan Hospital and touching the lives of so many people that worked or stayed there. John was also a cancer survivor for 37 years.

He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He spent countless hours teaching his grandchildren the finer points of fishing and was with all of them when they caught their first “real catch,” as well as the ones that “got away.”

We don’t understand why or how he got away from us, but we will all miss him greatly. The world is a better place for him having been a part of it.

Funeral services will begin at 10:30 A.M. Friday, July 11, 2008 at the United Church of Garretson, with burial in the Summit Hill Cemetery, rural Garretson. Visitation with the family present will be from 5-7:00 P.M. Thursday, at the Minnehaha Funeral Home, Garretson.