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Obituary
Services have been rescheduled!
Graveside 2:00PM Monday, April 16th Brooklyn Cemetery
Memorial service 2:30PM Monday, April 16th Wass Funeral Home
James Thissell was born June 1, 1935 in South Dakota to Oscar and Bernice (Olbertson) Thissell. He died March 31, 2018 at his home in Newark, CA at the age of 82.
Graveside 2:00PM Monday, April 16th Brooklyn Cemetery
Memorial service 2:30PM Monday, April 16th Wass Funeral Home
James Thissell was born June 1, 1935 in South Dakota to Oscar and Bernice (Olbertson) Thissell. He died March 31, 2018 at his home in Newark, CA at the age of 82.
He graduated from Beresford High School in 1953 and attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls where he graduated with honors in 1957 with his Bachelor of Science degree. From there he received his master's degree at Iowa State while being a member of the US Naval Reserve.
James worked as a physicist in various cities such as St. Louis, MO, Las Vegas, NV, Palo Alto and Newark, CA while working for military and space contractors. He worked on the Pioneer satellite project for satellite experiments.
He traveled the world through his work and by going on many vacations. James liked to hunt big game. This passion took him to many places, such as South Africa, Mongolia and Alaska. He was currently planning a trip to Europe in May. James loved his family and spent the past 50 Christmases at his brother's home in Washington and he liked to attend school reunions, including Augie's the fall of 2017.
Survivors include his brother, David Thissell and his wife, Sandra of Ilwaco, WA; five nieces and nephews; sister-in-law, Leila Thissell; many cousins and his neighbors and church friends in Newark. His parents and his brother, Charles Thissell preceded him in death.
Honoring James' request to be buried beside his parents, a graveside service is scheduled for 2PM Monday, April 16, 2018 at Brooklyn Cemetery, rural Beresford, SD. A memorial service and fellowship will follow at 2:30PM at Wass Funeral Home in Beresford. The family requests memorials to the charity of the donor's choice.
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Services
Memorial Reception
April
16
Wass Funeral Home Beresford
Starts at 2:30 pm
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