Margaret D. Trysla

Margaret D. Trysla, of South Sioux City, Nebraska passed away Friday November 13, 2015 at her residence following a courageous battle against cancer. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday November 17, 2015 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in South Sioux City, Nebraska. Burial will be in St Michael's Cemetery, South Sioux City, Nebraska. Visitation will be from 3 till 8 p.m. Monday with the family present from 5 till 8 p.m. and vigil service at 7:00 p.m. at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Online condolences may be sent to www.meyerbroschapels.com. Margaret D. Trysla was born in Hubbard, NE, the daughter of Daniel and Pearl (Harty) Hartnett. Margaret grew up in the Hubbard area graduating from Hubbard High School. She received her Bachelor's degree from the College of St. Mary's in Omaha, and received her Master's Degree plus additional coursework towards a doctorate degree from the University of South Dakota. As a life-long educator, Margaret taught high school and college-level English for more than 45 years. She started her teaching career at Central High School in Sioux City until the school's closing and then transferred to West High School where she taught Advanced Placement English. After retiring from the Sioux City Community Schools, she was an adjunct professor at Briar Cliff College and Morningside College. She was married to Henry S. Trysla on April 11, 1959, in Hubbard, NE, and they lived in South Sioux City for their married life. The couple raised their five children in South Sioux City and were avid contributors to the community. Margaret and Henry were founding members of the Board of Directors of the Dakota County State Bank (presently Farmers Merchant Bank) of South Sioux City and were members of the group that established the cable television system in South Sioux City. They enjoyed traveling, visiting more than 35 different countries prior to her husband's death. Henry Trysla passed away on January 22, 2012, in Sioux City. She was a former Countess of Aksarben, a member of P.E.O. and Fort Knightly. She and her husband were lifetime members of St. Michael's Catholic Church where Mrs. Trysla was a frequent vocalist and organist for the church. Margaret is survived by her children Teresa and her husband Bill Townsend of Sioux Falls, SD; Patrick Trysla and his wife Kris of Leawood, KS; Maria Trysla and her husband Byron Arthur of Boulder, CO; Trudi Trysla and her husband David Schultz of St. Paul, MN; and Timothy Trysla of Washington, D.C. Two brothers: Dr. Paul Hartnett and his wife Marge of Bellevue, NE; Jim Hartnett and his wife Jackie of Hubbard, NE and 12 grandchildren: Matt Townsend, Meg (Dane) Townsend-Washenberger, Izzy and Rachel Townsend; Tatum, Cimone and Clayton Trysla; Sydney and Drake Arthur; Samuel, Colin and Nina Schultz. She dedicated herself to learning and education and is remembered by countless students whose lives she touched and whose love of literature she inspired by her own passion. She is also remembered by her many friends, past and present, for whom there is nothing she would not do. She demonstrated an unquenchable exuberance for life, evidenced by her many travels and her love of theater, as well as her effervescent personality, evidenced by her interest in and concern for everyone she met. Above all, she was committed to her family, her children and grandchildren and extended family, who always received unwavering love and support and are guided by her shining light that embodied her every day. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Henry and her sister Mary Maks and brother-in-law Dr. Stephen Maks. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the St. Jude's Children Hospital and St. Michael's Catholic Church.