George Semmler, 78, of Hitchcock, SD, passed away Tuesday, January 30, 2024, at Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, SD.  George gave the gift of life through organ and tissue donation.

   Visitation, with family present, will be from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 4, at Hyke Funeral Home in Redfield, SD.

   George’s funeral service will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, February 5, at Tulare United Church in Tulare, SD.  Pastor Rey Colón will officiate.  Lunch will be served in the church hall after the service.  Burial will be at a later date at Altoona Cemetery in Hitchcock, SD.  

   The funeral service will be live-streamed on the funeral home’s website below George’s obituary.  Arrangements have been entrusted to Hyke Funeral Home (www.hykefuneralhome.com).

   George Semmler was born to Bernhard and Marie (Leib) Semmler on April 16, 1945, in Roscoe, SD.  He grew up on the family farm near Roscoe.  George completed his eighth-grade education at a country school.  He worked at the Lumber Company in Roscoe as a teenager.  He worked at James Valley Coop and Wheat Growers for 21 years and Goodyear for 13 years as a mechanic. 

   George married Corrinne Dennert on May 17, 1974.  They had one son, Andrew Lee Semmler.  George married Jean (Lovett) Nowell on July 14, 1997.

   He was a member of the Tulare United Church. George enjoyed square dancing, playing cards and Dominoes, fixing and restoring things, and fishing. 

   George is survived by his wife, Jean of Hitchcock, and children: Andrew of Mitchell, SD; Kathryn (Lee) Schaunaman, of Aberdeen, SD; Kenneth (Tammy) Nowell and Ronald Nowell, all of Hitchcock; and Christine (Brian) Evans of Colton, SD.  He is also survived by his grandchildren: Amanda Dolan, Joshua (Kasey) Nowell, Staci (Sreedhar) Thota, Jordan (Rachael) Nowell, Justin (Naomi) Hull, John (Koree) Nowell, Dominic (Andrew) Frisbie, Jeremy (Emily) Nowell, Spencer (Rosevin) Hull, Caleb (Ashley) Evans, Aaron (Bethany Biryukova), Kendra (Joseph) Layne, Ethan Evans, Matthew Evans, and Ian Evans; 27 great-grandchildren; twin brother, Martin Semmler of Helena, MT; and brother-in-law, Ronald Crane, of Cheyenne, WY.

   He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters: Janette (Ray) Poplau, Betty (Norman) Anderson, Della (Morris) Thompson, and Ella Crane; and his cousin Newt Semmler.