Lyle E. Sylvester

Lyle E. Sylvester, 84, currently of Clay Center, KS since 2003, and a resident of rural Wamego, KS since 1966, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2014 at Mercy Regional Health Center of Manhattan, KS. Lyle was born August 7, 1930 on his family farm near Riley, KS, the son of Edward and Lillian (Nauerth) Sylvester. He attended Magic Rural Grade School and graduated in 1948 from Riley Rural High School. He was united in marriage to Lois Jean Elsasser on May 18, 1952 in Clay Center, KS. She preceded him in death on April 10, 2001. He then married Betty (Bertsch) Bartelle on May 26, 2003 in Leonardville, KS. She survives of the home. He and Lois Jean farmed in the Riley area before moving to rural Wamego in 1966. There, they started their family farm which is still family run and managed today. Lyle was very proud of his rural and farming heritage. He was a farmer and stockman all of his life. He was also very active in his community. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Wamego and attended the Clay Center Evangelical Covenant Church. He also served in leadership roles and as officers of many different community groups, agricultural organizations, and church committees. Mostly, Lyle was very proud to be a father, grandfather and great-grandfather. The time he spent with his family was the most cherished. Survivors also include: his son, Leon Sylvester (Janet) of Wamego; two daughters: Larissa Hageman (Keith) of Broken Arrow, OK; Lynette Hill (Scott) of Abilene, KS; one sister, Gladys Jahnke (Harold) of Powhattan, KS; one brother, Elgene Sylvester (Nola) of Wamego; 8 grandchildren: Julene DeRouchey (Joel), Andrew Sylvester (Laura), Aaron Sylvester (Claire), Charlotte Howenstein (Ben), Katie Dick (Travis), Melissa Hill, Kodi and Kayden Hageman; 12 great-grandchildren; 4 step-children: Dorinda Morrissette (John) of Broomfield, CO, Debbie Sump (Larry) of Randolph, KS, Jeff Bartelle (Pam) of Kansas City, MO, Joel Bartelle (Anita) of Columbia, TN; 11 step-grandchildren and 22 step-great-grandchildren. He was also preceded in death by a sister, Marjorie Friederich. Funeral services for Mr. Sylvester will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, Nov. 3, 2014 at the First United Methodist Church of Wamego. Burial will follow in the Wamego City Cemetery. He will lie in-state at the Stewart Funeral Home of Wamego beginning at 1:00 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2nd , with a visitation from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the First United Methodist Church of Wamego, or the Clay Center Evangelical Covenant Church, and may be left in care of the Stewart Funeral Home, PO Box 48, 66547, Wamego, KS.