David John Gislason

The funeral service for David “Gooz” Gislason, 67, of Marshall, will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 3, 2022, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 402 East Lyon St in Minneota. Visitation will be Friday from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. at the Horvath Remembrance Center in Marshall. Visitation will continue on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Interment will take place at the Westerheim Cemetery in Westerheim Township.

David John “Gooz” Gislason was born on January 5, 1955, in Marshall, to Julian and Vi (Anderson) Gislason. He lived with his parents at the family farm until they moved into Minneota when he was ten. David was forced to walk to and from school (across the street.) He graduated from Minneota High School in 1973. David attended Ridgewater Community College for law enforcement and interned for the Marshall Police Department. Upon graduation, he worked part-time in Minneota, Tracy and Walnut Grove. He decided to further his education at Southwest Minnesota State College so he took a job with the Marshall Police Department as a Dispatcher to finance his education. As sometimes happens, he enjoyed his new vocation so he continued on with them until they merged with the Lyon County Sheriff's Office for the Joint Law Enforcement Center. At that time, he took a job as a communications Operator for the Minnesota State Patrol and retired in 2013. While working one evening in September at the Marshall Police Department, he heard a new voice on the radio and decided to check out the new dispatcher at the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office. After many phone conversations, they finally got together for their first date in November and were engaged in May of 1981. Just after one year of knowing each other, David married that dispatcher, Mary VanOverbeke, on 9-11 of 1982. This date happened to be the first available at the church and reception venue but was quite appropriate for two 911 dispatchers.

David’s enjoyments in life included collecting law enforcement memorabilia. His patch collection became one of the largest in the state... He also enjoyed golfing, metal detecting, fishing and teasing his family and friends. He enjoyed conducting services at St. Paul’s and Spring Creek in his younger years, and later at the Minneota Manor when needed.

David went to be with the Lord on Monday, August 29, 2022, surrounded by family and under the care of hospice at his residence in Marshall. He is survived by his wife, Mary, of Marshall, brother Dennis (Judy) Ozmun of rural Minneota, brothers-in-law Tom (Alice) VanOverbeke of Marshall, John (Pat) VanOverbeke of Marshall and Stephen (Pam) VanOverbeke of Russell; sisters-in-law Bea (Bill) Jerzak of Ivanhoe, Sue (Wes) Post of Edgerton, Joyce (Ed) Eppinger of Oklahoma, Cindy Jolstad of Marshall, Susan VanOverbeke of Eagan, Nancy (Leigh) Ribble of Scottsdale, AZ, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends that were like family. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Duane and Warren Ozmun, sister Joan in infancy; mother and father-in-law Julia B. and Alphonse VanOverbeke, brothers-in-law Brian VanOverbeke and Anthony VanOverbeke, Nephews Tony Ozmun and Anthony VanOverbeke II, and niece Marie VanOverbeke.

Memorials preferred to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 402 E. Lyon, Minneota, MN 56264.

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