Francis Grassel, 90, Artesian, died Thursday, May 30, 2013 at his farm home under hospice care.
Funeral services were 10:30 a.m. Monday morning, June 3 at St. Charles Catholic Church in Artesian. Burial was in Mount Pleasant Cemetery. Visitation was Sunday eveing with a scripture service at 7 p.m. in St. Charles Catholic Church. Arrangements are with the Bittner Funeral Chapel in Mitchell.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established to Avera Hospice of Mitchell.
Francis was born Oct. 24, 1922 at Mitchell to Joseph and Mary (Maddock) Grassel. He attended country school and graduated from Artesian High School in 1940.
He worked at Green Giant Canning Factory at Blue Earth, Minn. for several years and then a gas station in Mitchell until 1948.
On May 3, 1948 he married Loretta Sullivan at St. Margaret Catholic Church in Kimball. They moved to his uncle’s farm northwest of Artesian where he farmed his entire life. He was a member of St. Charles Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus.
He is survived by his six sons, Tim Grassel and wife, Jan, Artesian, Terry Grassel and wife, LaVonne, Sioux Falls, Edward Grassel and wife, Laurie, Artesian, Pat Grassel, Howard, Joseph Grassel and wife, Diane, Artesian, and Todd Grassel and wife, Maggie, Elk Point; eight daughters, Joan Helling, Madelia, Minn., Rita Trebil and husband, Doug, Artesian, Connie Ruml and husband, Ken, Howard, Ann Grassel, Watertown, Lisa Licht and husband, Bill, Estelline, Barbara Nebelsick and husband, Gary, Elk Point, Marlys Sears, Black Hawk, Lori McFarland and husband, Jace, Marshall, Wis.; 54 grandchildren; 50 great-grandchildren; one brother, John Grassel, Mitchell; three sisters, Eleanor Unterbrunner, Woonsocket, Raeburn Moore, Mitchell, and Mary Jo Vetter, Woonsocket; two sisters-in-law, Delores (Shorty) Mathis, Woonsocket, and Marcie Hinker, Howard; and a brother-in-law, Marvin (Dottie) VanOverschelde, Mitchell.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Loretta; son, David; one brother, Ted; two sisters, Ruth Hinker and Monica VanOverschelde; and two grandsons in infancy.