Claude Kissack

Funeral services for local businessman, Claude Robert Kissack Sr. will be held at 10:00 am, Thursday, January 4, 2007 at the New Life Wesleyan Church with Pastor Marty Crump of the Family Life Church officiating. Burial will follow at the Rozet Cemetery in Rozet, Wyoming. Visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 pm on Wednesday, January 3, 2007 at Stevenson-Wilson Funeral Home in Gillette, Wyoming.Claude Kissack, age 86, of Rozet, Wyoming died on December 31, 2006, of complications of a stroke at the family home north of Rozet, surrounded by his family. Claude Kissack was born at home on September 6, 1920 to John Claude and Marion (McGregor) Kissack in Spearfish Valley, Spearfish, South Dakota. Claude joined sister, Louise, brothers: John, Phil and Donald. He went to school in Spearfish through the 7th grade and then went to work on the family farm. As a young man Claude went to Oregon and worked in the big timber as a high climber. Claude married Martha Reffel in Portland, Oregon in 1947. They had a son, Claude Kissack Jr. in 1949. Martha died shortly after in 1949 from heart complications. Claude moved back to the Black Hills. It was there that he bought his first truck for $800 in 1949. His parents helped him with his baby son until he married Mildred F. Somers on February 10, 1952. Four children were born to this union. Claude and Mildred?s first home of one year was in Custer, South Dakota. Claude hauled bag cement from Laramie, Wyoming to Newcastle, Wyoming on a daily basis. They then moved to Newcastle where Claude hauled lumber supplies from Rapid City, South Dakota to Newcastle for Culver Lumber. Claude then started working in the oilfields around Newcastle as the oil boom was on. Claude and Mildred moved their family to Rozet, Wyoming in 1965 where they bought the Dave Whistler Ranch. They expanded their trucking business and continued to work in the oilfields around Gillette and other parts of Wyoming and neighboring states. Claude and Mildred incorporated their business in 1975. They sold stock in Kissack Water and Oil Service, Inc, to their son Doug Kissack and daughter Sally Reynolds and her husband John. Claude owned Kissack and Belmont Well Service, Inc, and Three Cornors Leasing, LLC. The business continued to grow and expanded into commercial cattle feeding in Wyoming, Nebraska,, Colorado, South Dakota, California and Montana. Claude and Mildred sold their interest in Kissack Water and Oil Service, Inc., to Doug and Jo Kissack and John and Sally Reynolds in 1999. Claude was very involved in the stock market and was a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge in Newcastle, Wyoming. He continued to work in his ranching business until his death; he also was currently in business with his youngest son, Quent and his wife Wendy. This business is a roustabout business called Kissack Oilfield Service, Inc. Claude worked very hard and was known to be quite a business and family man.Claude is survived by his wife of 54 years, Mildred and their five children: Claude Jr. (Kathy) Kissack, Sally (John) Reynolds, Douglas (Jo) Kissack, Bart (Kathy) Kissack and Quentin (Wendy) Kissack all from the Gillette area; sister, Louise Cardinal of Portland, Oregon; 15 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Martha and 3 brothers.A memorial has been established to the American Cancer Society or the Gideon International. Condolences may be sent in Claude?s name in care of Stevenson-Wilson Funeral Home 210 W. 5th Street, Gillette, Wyoming 82716 or via the internet www.stevensonwilson.com.