Gordon J. Gisi, 78, Sturgis, died Sunday, March 27, 2011, at the Fort Meade VA Medical Center.

Visitation will be Tuesday from noon to 9:00 p.m. at Kinkade Funeral Chapel.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 30, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. at the United Methodist Church with Pastor Kyle Reinhiller officiating. Inurnment will be Friday, April 1st at 2:00 p.m. at Black Hills National Cemetery with military honors provided by the Sturgis Veteran's Honor Guard.

Gordon was born May 12, 1932, on the Gisi farm 4 miles West of Hosmer, SD, to Joe and Rose (Aman) Gisi. He grew up in Hosmer, Selby, and Aberdeen, SD. During his high school years, he worked as a bell-hop at the Sherman Hotel. Following graduation, Gordon started working with the US Government Geological Survey Crew in South Dakota and Florida.

Gordon joined the US Air Force in 1952 and served 4 years. He was stationed at Ellsworth AFB and in Tripoli. He was a mechanic on F-84, F-85, and F-89 fighter planes. Following his honorable discharge, he worked for the VA at Fort Meade, Eddy Rypkema in Deadwood, and Brekhus in Rapid City, servicing trucks.

In 1962, he bought a gravel truck and hauled to missile sites being built here in South Dakota and worked in Montana and Iowa. Gordon then bought an over-the-road truck and leased to Mayflower, Sammons Trucking International Transport, and Schneider Trucking. He retired in 1987 due to his health. Gordon then did pilot car work with family members. He then got some buffalo to raise for fun, and ended up with a herd.

Gordon married Delores Remington on May 15, 1954, in Rapid City. They lived in Sturgis, Deadwood, and Rapid City.

Survivors include his wife, Delores, Rapid City; four children, Randy (Shelby) Gisi, Hill City, Kirk Gisi, Rapid City, Missie (Brett) Stenson, Hill City, and Jon Gisi, Pringle, SD; six grandchildren, Joe Gisi, Wright, WY, Sarah Gisi, Sheridan, WY, Sean Stenson, Elko, NV, Samantha and Seth Stenson, Hill City, and Ashlee Stenson, Sioux Falls; one step-grandchild, Jeffery Newell, Rapid City; and one great-granddaughter, Shia Gisi.

He was preceded in death by his mother, father, and his only sibling, a sister, Anne Kunick.

A memorial has been established to Cystic Fibrosis.