Guy Gary Sides

Gary Sides, 60 of Dakota City, Neb., passed away Sunday, April 13, 2014 of natural causes at his home.  Services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 17, at The Dakota City United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Richard Savage officiating. Burial will be at the Dakota City Cemetery. Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 16, at the Becker Hunt Funeral Home in South Sioux City. Neb., with the family present from 6:30 to 8 p.m.  Gary was born October 28, 1953, in Sioux City, Iowa. He graduated from South Sioux City High School in 1972. He worked at the Paddock Steak House in South Sioux City from 8th grade until graduation. After high school he toured Europe for three months and then attended the University of Nebraska for 1 year. In 1974 he opened Sides Sodas and Confectionery in Oakland, Neb. He also owned and operated the Lyons Soda Fountain in Lyons, Neb. He sold the confectioneries and in 1977 he and his father, Jerry Sides, purchased the grain elevator at Emerson, Neb., and opened as Sides Feed and Grain. The father-and-son team worked together at the elevator until 1989 when they sold it.  In 1989, Gary moved back to Dakota City and into the home once lived in by his great grandparents, grandparents and mother. He devoted the rest of his life to pursuing his love of history, especially the history of the Siouxland region. He compiled thousands of notebooks regarding the history of Dakota County relating to steamboats, bridges, buildings, schools, farms, towns and life stories.  Gary accomplished many historical endeavors, including creating several historical pictorial wall displays throughout the area. These displays include a photo wall at the Dakota City United Methodist Church featuring all ministers from 1856 to current; a display at the Dakota County Courthouse showing all district judges; and the historical pictures and explanatory text that line the walls of the historic O’Connor House in Homer, Neb. He also accumulated and had microfilmed the 1870-to-present newspapers and raised $10,000 to provide a microfilm reader and printer for the Dakota City Library.  Gary selflessly shared his love of the history of his community with others. At the time of his death, he had on loan to the Dakota County Treasurer’s office a collection of “#70” Dakota County license plates from 1915 to the present that he and his father had collected.  He also designed the first Dakota County flag which hangs in the Dakota County Commissioner’s Office and depicts explorers the Lewis and Clark expedition.  Over the years Gary has helped many people search their family history. He served as president of the Dakota County Historical Society from 1991 to 2003. The history buff also researched and co-authored with Melvin Shadbolt a 400-page book about the history of Methodism on the 150th anniversary of the Dakota City United Methodist Church.  Gary is also known to people throughout Siouxland as the man who won the contest to name “Twigamore,” the stick-built art sculpture that graced the lawn of the Sioux City Art Center in 2005-2007. The name is a tongue-in-cheek tribute to the iconic Biltmore Estate in North Carolina.  The last four years, he has been caregiver to Maxine Nielsen.  And finally, Gary will be remembered by his family and friends for his love of a good story and a malty Belgium beer, and his generous, heartwarming and hearty laugh.  Gary is survived by his parents Guy Gerald (Jerry) and Shirley (Niemeyer) Sides; sisters Jerri Lynn Zortman (Marjorie Knotts), Eve Sides (Tracy Dean Burns); nieces Hillary Zortman, Gretchen Zortman and great-nephew Carter Zortman.  He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Guy Gayland Sides and Helen (Antrim) Bland; and his maternal grandparents, Maurice and Catherine Niemeyer.