Emmanuel Nyarko Gyasi, 39, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, passed away on Monday, November 17, 2025, at Avera McKennan Hospital. Born on February 7, 1986, in Cape Coast, Ghana, to Seth and Elizabeth Osei Gyasi, Emmanuel spent his childhood and early adulthood in Ghana. He earned a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Cape Coast and began his career teaching sixth grade at Police Basic School. He also founded a nonprofit focused on community health education and free screenings—work that reflected his deep commitment to service.

During this time, he met his future wife, who was studying abroad in Ghana. After 30 years in his homeland, he immigrated to the United States to be with the love of his life. On July 16, 2016, Emmanuel married Rachel Anderson at Trinity Lutheran Church in Brooten, MN. They made their home in Sioux Falls and became loving parents to their two children, Lila and Bryce.

Teaching lived at the core of Emmanuel's being. In 2016, he began his career in the United States as a kindergarten assistant at Hawthorne Elementary School. The following year, he accepted a full-time position teaching fifth grade. He found his second family at Hawthorne, and it was the place where his calling, his talent, and his heart all aligned. Outside the classroom, Emmanuel coached in the Sioux Falls Neighborhood Soccer program, where he turned his passion for the game into a chance to invest in the lives of young players. Teaching was the work God placed in his spirit—the work he was born to do—and he lived that calling with joy, humility, and passion.

Everything Emmanuel did flowed from his devotion to his family and his steadfast faith. Raising his children, honoring his Ghanaian heritage, and praising the Lord were the heartbeat of his life. He loved music and often joked that he would have been a DJ in another life. He took joy in turning everyday moments with his family into lessons, laughter, and lasting memories. Emmanuel cherished his loved ones, making it a top priority to call his mother in Ghana every day. He loved soccer, cheering for all teams, especially those with Ghanaian talent, and he treasured special moments attending concerts, traveling and simply being together with his family.

A framed art piece in the Gyasi home reads, "If you want to change the world, go home and love your family." Emmanuel lived those words in a way uniquely his own. He crossed the ocean between Ghana and America, building connections and forging friendships that grew into family. In countless small and faithful ways, he poured into the world—shaping students, strengthening community, and nurturing a home filled with love. His life was a testament to the truth that love offered freely can change the world. Emmanuel understood that home is not only where we live but where we love—and he created home everywhere he went.

There is a South African phrase, ubuntu , which echoes through the hallways at Hawthorne Elementary. It means: "I am because we are," and it embodies a way of living that honors connection, kindness, and shared humanity. Emmanuel lived this truth so fully that every life he touched was forever changed by him. We are because he was.

Emmanuel is survived by his wife, Rachel Gyasi; his two children, Lila (4) and Bryce (2), of Sioux Falls; his mother, Elizabeth Osei Gyasi; and five siblings—Victor (Mavis) Osei Gyasi, Augustina (Daniel) Akwesi Asamoah, Patience (Aaron) Bannie, Felix Osei Gyasi, and Violet Asabea (Joe Emmanuel) Nana-Otoo—of Ghana; his mother-in-law, Sue Anderson; brothers-in-law, Grant (Heidi) Anderson, Noah (Amanda) Anderson, and Isaac (Shannon) Anderson, all of Belgrade, MN; and many nieces and nephews whom he adored.

Emmanuel was preceded in death by his father, Seth Osei Gyasi, and his father-in-law, Jim Anderson.

In lieu of flowers, monetary gifts referencing the college fund for Emmanuel's children, Lila and Bryce, would be received with heartfelt gratitude. Contributions to the Hawthorne Elementary Ubuntu Memorial Fund are also welcome, helping to bring long-awaited soccer goals to the playground and to establish an Ubuntu memorial honoring Emmanuel's spirit and legacy.

A funeral service will be held at 3:00 PM on Sunday, November 23, 2025, with visitation starting at 1:00 PM, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 5500 East 57th Street, Sioux Falls, SD 57108. A graveside service will take place at 3:00 PM on Monday, November 24, 2025, at the Methodist Cemetery in Belgrade, MN.

The funeral service will be livestreamed on the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church website. To participate in the livestream service, please visit https://gloriadeisf.org/media/funeral/