Carl Phillip Sierp, 86, of Sioux Falls, passed away on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.  Private family services will be held Tuesday, April 2, 2024. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery.

Carl was born June 3, 1937, in Clarinda, Iowa, to Orie and Wilda (Sunderman) Sierp. He spent his early years in Villisca, Iowa, and graduated from Villisca High School in 1955, where he lettered in basketball and football and was named to the National Honor Society. He then attended the University of Iowa where he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Carl earned his bachelor’s degree from the College of Commerce in 1959.

Following graduation, Carl married Mary Sue Henrich on July 7, 1959, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Alton, Iowa. The couple spent the next 10 weeks at Fort Benning, Georgia, while Carl completed officer training with the U.S. Army. He spent two years with the Army before separating in 1961 and joining the Iowa National Guard. First as lieutenant and then as captain, Carl served in Company C in Clarinda and Villisca. He resigned from the guard in June of 1965.

Between 1960 and 1963, Carl and Sue welcomed three daughters – Lisa, Sharon and Karrie. Carl opened and managed several successful family restaurants over the next 22 years including The Valley Restaurant (1966), The Viking (1973) and Odin’s Restaurant (1977), all in Atlantic, Iowa; as well as Hokes Cafe in Ogallala, Neb. In fact, Chuck Offenburger of the Des Moines Register consistently named The Valley as one of the top 10 best cinnamon rolls. In his spare time, Carl supported the local YMCA and enjoyed playing racquetball.

Carl retired in 1987. He and Sue purchased a motor home and spent the next 20+ years exploring the United States. They spent much of their time in locations like Cooke City, Montana, and Key West, Florida, as well as Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona.

Carl is survived by his wife, Sue; his children, Lisa (Tim) Swedean, Sharon (Ken) Rohmiller, Karrie (Brian) Kelly; 7 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; and his sister Phyllis (Walt) Henrich.

Carl was preceded in death by his parents; sister Patricia Fast; and brother-in-law Wayne Fast.