G. Dana Niceswanger

Gerald Dana Niceswanger, age 96, of Sac City, Iowa, passed away at Park View Care Center in Sac City on June 21, 2004, following a short illness.

Dana was born May 1, 1908, in Sac County. He was the son of Emmett and Cora (Starlin) Niceswanger. He attended country school and graduated from Lake View High School. His parents were farmers and he pursued that occupation.

On March 14, 1935, Dana was united in marriage to Fae Imogene Harris, at her parent’s home near Schaller, Iowa. They farmed for various landowners in and around Sac City. They were blessed with a daughter, Macel Joan. When Macel was in the fifth grade, they gave up farming and moved to Sac City where Dana held various jobs including a Ford tractor mechanic, bottle gas deliveryman for Farber & Otteman Furniture Store, and a short time in the appliance business with Orville and Ruth Ehwegen as well as a school bus driver and a Farm Service employee.

He had many hobbies in his lifetime. He repaired his first cars himself, as he was very mechanically minded. Later in life, he became a licensed small aircraft pilot and owned three different planes during that time. Dana, Fae and Macel spent a lot of weekends at the local airport and flying to flight breakfasts on Sundays. Dana and Fae both became licensed ham radio operators and enjoyed many new friends. He enjoyed playing cards, dancing the two-step, playing several musical instruments and was a part of a small band with other local people, playing for dances and at nursing homes. Dana and Fae loved fishing and camping.

Dana was preceded in death by his wife, Fae, on October 18, 2002; his parents; and two sisters: Gertrude Mendenhall and Beulah (Sanders) Wycoff. He is survived by his daughter Macel and husband Marvin Janssen; his brother Dale (Norma) Niceswanger of Chetek, WI; four grandchildren and their spouses: Janet (Dale) Lewis of Norwalk, IA, Jerald “Jerry” (Chris) Janssen of Sioux City, IA, Joni (Don) Rench of Norwalk, IA, and Jennifer (Jeff) Boland of Plano, TX. There are eight great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren: Nicole (Lewis) Giddings (Aaron) of Altoona, IA, Justin Lewis, Lindsey Lewis of Norwalk, IA, Jill (Janssen) Jeffords (Rich) and children, Devin and Alessandra of Dallas, OR, Michael Janssen of Sioux City, IA, Jason Rench and Ashley Rench of Norwalk, IA, and Hailey Boland of Plano, TX; extended family and friends.

Funeral services will be Wednesday, June 23rd, 10:30 am, at the Farber & Otteman Funeral Home in Sac City with Reverend Dean McPherson officiating, Lorna Youll, organist, and Stephanie Hecht, soloist. Flower arrangement will be taken care of by Corrinne Sageser and Phyllis Richardson. Honorary pallbearers include: Les Zeman, Marvin Wiley, Percy Hout, Paul Meyer, and Dwayne Sageser. Pallbearers will be the following: Dale Lewis, Don Rench, Jeff Boland, Justin Lewis, Jason Rench, and Mike Janssen. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery in Sac City under the direction of the Farber & Otteman Funeral Home.

Visitation is Tuesday, June 22nd, from 4:00-8:00 pm, with family present from 6:00-8:00 pm.