James Gusenius

James Gusenius, 80 of Webster died on Saturday, May 21, 2016 at Sun Dial Manor in Bristol. His funeral will be at 2:00 P.M. Thursday, May 26, 2016 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Webster, Rev. William Olsen officiating. Burial with military rites will be at Webster Cemetery. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Wednesday 5-7 P.M. and prior to services on Thursday at the church. James Gusenius was born on Wednesday, July 24, 1935 to John A. and Mary E. (Daggett) Gusenius on the family farm in Valley Township, Day County, South Dakota west of Butler. He was baptized at Bethany Lutheran Church and confirmed at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Bristol. He attended country school near his home and attended Bristol High School. He joined the South Dakota National Guard in 1952 and then enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1955. He was stationed in Korea. After his honorable discharge in 1957 he returned home to farm with his father. He was united in marriage to Mary Ann Gullickson on September 27, 1958 at St. Pauli Lutheran Church near Wallace, South Dakota. After their marriage the couple farmed near Butler until 1962 when they bought their own farm in Clark County on U.S. Highway 25 south of Webster. In 2000 the couple moved into Webster but Jim continued to farm until he sold the land in 2011. In 2012 they purchased a home in Arizona and spent the winter months. In retirement he restored old tractors at his shop in Webster. He entered Sun Dial Manor in Bristol in September 2015. Jim was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Webster where he was a member of St. John’s Men’s Club and was Secretary for many years. He also belonged to Herbert McKennett Post 40 American Legion and V.F.W. Post 4690 in Webster. He enjoyed toy tractors, country music, watching Hee Haw on television, World War II history and playing cards. Jim also enjoyed having coffee with his buddies at Dakota Diner in Webster and while in Arizona at the local McDonald’s. He especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. Jim passed away on Saturday, May 21, 2016 at Bristol, South Dakota at the age of 80 years, 9 months and 27 days. Survivors include his wife, Mary Ann of Webster; two sons, Peter (Sherry) Gusenius of Keldron, SD and Matthew (Theresa) Gusenius of Rochester, MN; two daughters, Jewel (Alex) Viteri of Germantown, MD and Peggy (Mark) Johnson of Athens, GA; one brother, Delmar (Karen) Gusenius of Prescott Valley, AZ; eleven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, one daughter, Cindy, two sisters, Della Iverson and Mary Jane Fiksdal, and one brother, David.