Elizabeth Louise Kostel

Elizabeth Louise (Fanslow) Kostel, age 82, of Yankton, passed away Sunday, October 23, 2016 at the Avera Sister James Care Center Hospice, Yankton, SD. Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 AM, Thursday, October 27, 2016 at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Chapel, Yankton, SD with Rev. Larry Regynski officiating with a visitation one hour prior to the service at the funeral chapel. Burial will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery, Yankton, SD. On-line condolences may be sent at: www.opsahl-kostelfuneralhome.com.

Elizabeth Louise Fanslow was born August 28, 1934 in Yankton, SD to Willard and Louise (Milbauer) Fanslow. She attended Yankton schools, graduating from Mount Marty High School, then from Sacred Heart School of Nursing. Elizabeth went on to Sacred Heart School of Anesthesia, (now Mount Marty), graduating at the top of her class and becoming a favorite CRNA of the surgeons she worked with. Elizabeth also taught Anesthesia to nurses coming up in the field for the School of Anesthesia, and to this day there are pictures of her hanging in Mount Marty’s School of Anesthesia offices. In 1965 she married Jerome J. Kostel, and they adopted daughter, Lisa. Two years after that, their daughter Paula was born. After retiring from Anesthesia to raise her daughters, Elizabeth was offered the job of School RN at Yankton College, and very much enjoyed her interactions with the students. Elizabeth was a history enthusiast, loved books and reading, loved following politics, although she was horrified at the Republican presidential nominee this cycle. She was very sharp, smart, liberal to her core, and extremely generous and empathetic to those in need. Elizabeth was a lifelong member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Yankton, and she and her husband, Jerry, became Benedictine Oblates, furthering their devout Catholic faith. Elizabeth died the way she wanted, with dignity, and with loved ones by her side.

Elizabeth is survived by her beloved daughters, Lisa (Kostel) Merrigan of Yankton, SD and Paula Kostel of St. Louis Park, MN.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Willard and Louise; and her husband, Jerome.