Alfred Daiss

Alfred H. Daiss joined his beloved wife, Glady, to be with their Heavenly Father after 60 ½ years of marriage, on Friday, Jan. 10, 2014 after a six year battle with dementia. Glady passed away twelve days previously, on Dec. 30, 2013. They had been living at Wynwood/Brookdale Senior Living Facility in Twin Falls, Idaho for the past 3 1/2 years. His daughter Mary Rebecca (Becky) Daiss Harshman and hospice caregiver, Kris, were by his side.

Alfred was born in Cambridge, Nebraska on August 6, 1927 to Sam and Rebecca Hermann Daiss. He was baptized on Oct. 16th, 1927 at St. Johannes Gemeinde Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, Eustis, Nebraska and later affirmated his faith by confirmation at Clover Trinity Lutheran Church, Buhl/Filer, Idaho in 1944. He and his parents were charter members of St. John's Lutheran Church, Buhl, Idaho in which over the years he held various board positions, including Chairman of the Finance Committee, Chairman of the Jubilee Celebration Committee, Elder of the congregation for 18 years, and Chairman of the Congregation for numerous years. His life was always centered around his Lutheran faith and the Triune God.

He lived in Nebraska during the Great Depression and Dust Bowl until 1939 when his father decided to go West. Sam and Rebecca loaded up all their possessions in a 1½ ton truck Sam had revamped and moved Al and his two sisters, Ethel and Jean, to eastern Oregon, called the Oregon Project, where they homesteaded for one year before moving to Buhl, Idaho. Al resided in Buhl until March 2000 when he and Glady moved to Twin Falls, Idaho. Al graduated from Buhl High School in 1945 where he lettered in track and football. He cherished the many friends and classmates from high school, many which remained dear friends to this day although many are deceased. Al attended Albion Teacher's College for one year before returning to help his mother and father and work with his father and Uncle Bill Daiss, doing custom farming. He also began working for Rangen's Inc. as a sales representative throughout Southern Idaho and Northern Nevada, until being drafted into the U. S. Army in 1951 during the Korean Conflict. Al was assigned to the Pacific Co., 155 Infantry Tank Division, although he served his country stateside as a Master Sergeant. While stationed at Camp Atterbury, Indiana and awaiting his honorable discharge, he met the love of his life, Glady V. Holden at a USO dance. They were married in Columbus, Indiana at the 1st Baptist Church on June 6, 1953. The first night back in Buhl, Glady's introduction to Idaho, Buhl, and the Daiss family, was by "friends" having them ride up and down Main Street and into Gibb's Cigar Store on two donkeys. The following year, their daughter, Mary Rebecca (Becky) Daiss Harshman was born September 27, 1954.

In 1961 Al and Glady bought the Culligan Soft Water business in Buhl, which they operated together for 17 years. While owning the Culligan business, Al also started taking classes in real estate at the newly formed College of Southern Idaho. He was a realtor for 25 years starting with Western Realty in Buhl and finishing working with Robert Jones Realty in Twin Falls. Al and Glady always loved the country, and in 1972, bought an 80 acre farm east of Buhl. Although Al had Chuck Ewing and later his sons farm the land, he and Glady loved raising chickens (only 1 year), lambs (they were too cute to eat), and feed cattle. He and some of his dear friends, some of which are now deceased, would enjoy getting together to "work" the cattle. After moving to Twin Falls in 2000, they sold the farm in 2003. In 2006 they also transferred their Lutheran Church membership to Immanuel Lutheran Church in Twin Falls where they continued active attendance and membership until the past 3 1/2 years, when Al was no longer able to participate.

As well as serving his church, Al believed in always giving back to his community by being a Boy Scout Leader, belonging to the Buhl Volunteer Fire Dept. for 26 years, belonging to Buhl Kiwanis Club for 35 years, serving as a school board member of the Buhl School District, serving as Chairman of the Buhl Housing Authority for 26 years. While Becky was in high school, Al and Glady also served as Co-Youth Counselors with St. John's Lutheran church youth group, Walther League, with friends, Earl and Lelah Meier.

Although Al and Glady only had their one daughter, Becky, they loved all their nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews on down as if they were their own children and grandchildren. Al is survived by his loving daughter, Becky of Twin Falls, sister, Ethel Votroubek Hampton DeWalt, of Buhl. He is also survived by the remaining sister-in-laws and families in Alabama. Al is also survived by his nieces, Diana Schroeder Lien (Denny, dec.), Oregon, and family; Charolette (Deward) Schroeder Einfalt, Boise, Idaho, and family; Patsy (Jack) Votroubek Kinyon, Castleford, Idaho, and family; and Sue Votroubek (Terry Votroubek's wife), Jerome, Idaho, and family. Al is also survived by his nephews, Danny (Marge) Votroubek, Meridian, Idaho, and family; Gary (Sandy) Hicks, Riverside, Calif., and family; Dennis (Malika) Hanson, Boulder, Nevada and family; Craig Hicks, Riverside, Calif.; and Doug (Jackie) Hanson, Hickman, Nebraska, and family. Al is also survived by numerous cousins and their families and friends around the Boise, Idaho area and Nebraska.

Al was preceded in death by his wife, Glady, both of his parents, three of his sisters, Jean Hicks, Lurlie Schroeder Jones (Don, Daniel, dec.), Ruth Hanson (Lawrence, dec.), a nephew, Terry Votroubek, a niece, Donna Schroeder Iverson, all of he and Glady's brother-in-laws, two of Glady's sisters, Jean and Lou McNatt, five of his brother-in-laws from Glady's family, as well as numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Becky would like to thank Dr. Joseph Ippolito for the comprehensive and compassionate medical care he has provided Al over the last eight years, especially the last six years. Our family would also like to thank Pastor Roger Sedlmayr of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Twin Falls, for providing strength and compassion and bringing Al's church to both he and Glady when they were no longer able to attend, as well as bringing songs of faith and comfort. We would also like to thank friends of Immanuel Lutheran Church and St. John's Lutheran Church for their prayers and words of encouragement. We would also like to thank the staff of Wynwood/Brookdale Senior Living Facility of Twin Falls for providing loving, supportive, and dignified care for the past 3 ½ years to both Al and Glady, especially Connie, LPN. We would also like to express our sincere appreciation to Kris, (Al's primary caregiver), Jeannie (Al's Case Manager), and Auburn Crest Hospice for providing compassionate, loving care for our family through these difficult times.
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:7,8 King James Version

In celebration of Al's life, it is suggested that memorials be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church, Twin Falls, or St. John's Lutheran Church, Buhl.

Al's funeral will be conducted by Pastor Roger Sedlmayr 2:30 p.m. Sunday, January 19, 2014 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 2055 Filer Ave. E. in Twin Falls, Idaho. Visitation will be held at Farmer Funeral Chapel, Buhl, Idaho on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014 from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Committal will be at West End Cemetery, Buhl on at 4:00 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, 2014. Arrangements are under the direction of Farmer Funeral Chapel, Buhl.