Gordon Earl Kissel, 75, of Lincoln passed away on March 20, 2025 after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Born February 25, 1950 to Dean and Donnice (Ebert) Kissel, Gordon went on to graduate from Southeast High School in 1968. He met his wife of 53 years JoAnne (Gake) when he was her Young Life leader, and they married in 1972. After earning his Masters in Education from UNL, he taught Junior High English at Lincoln Public Schools for several years. In 1973, Gordon and JoAnne moved to Princeton, NJ while Gordon attended Princeton Theological Seminary. As he would say, he and God came to the mutual conclusion that a “calling” to the ministry was not forthcoming, so they moved back to Nebraska to resume his teaching career while JoAnne finished her degree in Art History. The highlight in this period was a summer working as nannies to a family in Venice, Italy.
Gordon went on to complete a Masters in Political Science at UNL, where he specialized in Water Policy and would later become the Executive Director of the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts until 1994. He then started his own lobbying firm, Kissel E&S LLC where he was Managing Partner until he retired. In his professional life, Gordon revered the Nebraska Unicameral, and found his footing in the legislative scene by forming authentic relationships and advocating on behalf of his clients by being straightforward and telling it like it is.
Gordon (Gordy to his golf friends, or “Gordy P for Popular”) was a lifelong golfer, and a true kid at heart. On the golf course, he could be found hitting balls, practicing his putting, or playing eighteen holes, initially at Firethorn and later at the Country Club of Lincoln. He founded the annual Lincoln Ryder Cup tournament with good friend Bob Roth, who would later become his oldest daughter’s father-in-law. In 2002, he was invited to participate in the annual Keepers of the Green tournament at the Old Course at Saint Andrews in Scotland.
As a dad, Gordon was a mischievously snarky and tender-hearted guy. He was devoted to making sure his two daughters, Alex and Meg, kept access to their childlike wonder, even as they grew into adults: Christmas mornings were cherished; trips to Disney World were taken despite his hatred of travel and flying; and he instilled in them the belief that they could be and do anything. He relished taking his daughters on many east coast college campus tours, and ended up the proud father of two graduates of Smith College in Northampton, MA.
Gordon leaves his three grandsons behind with indelible memories of their Papa G. With Milo, he leaves a tender and empathetic heart and love of video games, for Desi he leaves his dry wit and a well-timed heckle, and to Ozzy he leaves his middle name.
He is preceded in death by his parents and sister, Karen Wilkinson. He is survived by his wife, JoAnne; his daughter Alexandra Roth, her husband Michael Roth and their sons Milo Wallace and Dexter Matthew, all of Lincoln; his daughter Meg Kissel, her husband Danny RosenHanst and their son Oscar Gordon of New York City; and his brother Gary, of Salinas, Ecuador. He is also survived by nieces and nephews Kevin and Alan Wilkinson, Daisha Kissel and Suzanne Lapolla, and his father-in-law Wallace Gake.
Gordon’s memorial service will take place on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 at 2:30pm at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2110 Sheridan Blvd, with a reception to follow at the Country Club of Lincoln, 3200 S. 24th St.
Memorial checks can be made out to: “Memorial Account for Gordon Kissel”
Mail to:
Union Bank and Trust
PO Box 82535
Lincoln, NE 68501-9434
Services
Memorial Service
2:30 pm CST
Westminster Presbyterian Church
2110 Sheridan Blvd, Lincoln, NE
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Thinking of you, Joanne, and your family. Prayers for all of you!
– Barb Bangert Tyler
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