Obituary of Nettie Herman

Nettie Herman of Menno, SD, died peacefully on January 25 at the age of 97 1/2 years. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM, Thursday, January 30, 2014 at Grace Lutheran Church, Menno with Rev. Theresa Jacobson officiating. Burial will be in the Menno Cemetery. Visitations will be from 6-8 PM, Wednesday, January 29, 2014 at the Aisenbrey-Opsahl-Kostel Memorial Chapel, Menno, SD with the family present. Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. Nettie Marie Isaak was born July 28, 1916, in rural Parkston, SD, to William and Maria (Hildebrandt) Isaak, the tenth of thirteen children. She was baptized the next day in the Lutheran parsonage due to concerns that she would not live very long. She attended country school near Parkston and was confirmed in both German and English at Salem Lutheran Church in Parkston in May of 1930. Nettie was a self-taught pianist, organist, and seamstress. She married William Herman on June 24, 1939, and they raised five children while farming for 30 years in Hutchinson County before moving to Menno in 1969. After William's death in 1990 Nettie continued her work as a seamstress retiring in 2012 at the age of 95. She was the organist for rural St. John's Lutheran Church as well as a Sunday school and confirmation teacher. Nettie was active in the Grace Lutheran Church choir and sang in the annual community choir concerts. She was also an avid gardener and enjoyed traveling and being with her family. She will be greatly missed by her family, friends, and the community. Nettie is survived by three daughters: Joanne Ziarek of Milwaukee, WI, Patty Herman of Iowa City, IA, Judy (Greg Houda) Herman of Moran, WY, and one son James L. Herman of Menno; five grandchildren: Michelle Herman, Lisa (Larry) Klaudt, Kristi (Jason) Sayler, Travis (Linda) Herman, Janae Herman; five great grandchildren: Nicholas and Jack Herman, Logan Klaudt, Jenna and Morgan Sayler; and many nieces and nephews. Nettie was preceded in death by her husband William; son Gary Herman; parents; her eight brothers and four sisters.