Kevin K. Kusler

Kevin Karl Kusler was born on May 28, 1961 in Aberdeen, SD. He was the third child of Myron and Mabel (Knittel) Kusler. He passed away peacefully at his home on April 12, 2019 at the age of fifty seven. Kevin was baptized at Zion Lutheran Church in Aberdeen, SD.

At age two, the family moved to Pierre, SD where Kevin called home the rest of his life. Kevin was confirmed at Lutheran Memorial Church and remained a member until the time of his death. He was a state wrestler in high school and formed many lifelong friendships from his wrestling days. He graduated from Riggs High School with the class of 1979.

Upon graduation, Kevin entered basic training for the SD National Guard at Fort Sill. He earned Marksman on the M-16 Rifle and Expert on the hand grenade and served in the Guard for six years. Kevin owned and operated Kusler Body Shop after acquiring a degree as an auto body technician from Western Dakota Vocational Technical Institute in Rapid City, SD. He later owned a Texaco convenience store. Kevin enjoyed learning and took classes through Pierres Capital University Center. Throughout the years, Kevin worked at Dakotamart, Ft. Pierre Moose Club, Riverview Estates, KKS Enterprises and KBS Townhouses.

Kevin was very talented, meticulous, and had many interests and unique hobbies. He enjoyed reading Louis LAmour books and, in younger years, rollerskated (beautifully!) on the wooden floors of Pierres marina. Kevin hunted rattlesnakes near the Oahe Dam and dried and tanned the skins himself. Combined with his leather tooling skills, each of his family members had a belt, buckle, or leather piece made specifically for them. He took full of advantage of living on the Missouri River, where he grew up swimming at Farm Island, jet skied, fished and helped with dive rescues as a certified scuba diver.

Kevin built himself a custom motorcycle and especially enjoyed riding his Gold Wing in the Black Hills on his annual trips to Sturgis. He was also a committed member of A.B.A.T.E (American Bikers for Awareness Training and Education) and enjoyed the comradery of the group. He played chess and won several poker tournaments in the region. Kevin became close to various renters living in the other apartment throughout the years. He befriended so many through his associations and would go out of his way and sacrifice to help a friend in need. Kevin loved animals, especially his dogs! He always said Sly was the smartest, and everyone knew it was Kevin when they spotted his beautiful beloved Havoc, an Akita, riding in the bed of his little white pickup.

He will be missed by his loving parents, Mabel and Myron Kusler and sisters: Vicky (Mike) Dix of Sioux Falls, SD; Sharon (Troy) Bren of Arvada, CO; Julie (Brad) Samuelson, Pierre, SD and nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and his many, many friends.

He was preceded in death by his brother and best friend, Wane, in 1981; his maternal grandparents, Adolph and Esther (Kirschenmann) Knittel; and paternal grandparents, John and Amelia (Maier) Kusler.