Sylvenus E. "Sy" Wasinger was born March 5, 1931 in St. Peter, Kansas, son of John and Odelia (Appelhans) Wasinger.  He was born during a blizzard and his uncle volunteered to take him for his baptism.  His parents had chosen to name him John Jr. but after traveling through the blizzard, his uncle Sylvenus had him baptized and named after himself.

Sy attended grade school at Holcomb and due to his orneriness his parents sent him to St. Joseph Military Academy in Hays, Kansas where he graduated from high school in 1949.

On June 7, 1951, Sy married Norma Younger in Newton, Kansas.  Twelve days later, Sy was inducted into the United States Army.  He was stationed in Alaska where he drove a tank, but Norma stayed behind in Newton.  During his service time, he survived a grenade explosion on base leaving him with shrapnel in his arm.  On June 6, 1953, he was transferred to the Army Reserves and returned home to Newton. In 1955, they were blessed with their daughter, Phyllis.

After his discharge, Sy worked as a telegrapher for Santa Fe Railroad.  The family moved to a farm near Marienthal where, together with his brothers, they raised Black Angus cows and were one of the first farmers in the area to grow corn. Since corn was not a common crop and there was no place close to haul it, Sy decided he would buy an elevator in Cornado, KS and made improvements to the property, starting a successful business, Corn Incorporated.  After selling Corn Incorporated, he briefly swathed and baled before going to work for John Deere as a salesman.  He traveled to many states, selling John Deere products earning many sales awards.  After a motorcycle accident slowed Sy down a bit, he worked hauling ensilage.  During this time, there was an accident with a train and it was the train's fault so the railroad purchased Sy a new truck to drive, which he enjoyed for a couple of years before retiring.

During his retirement he spent his days riding his golf cart around Marienthal. He always took pride in helping keep the town looking nice and mowing for many of the residents.

Sy was a member of the St. Mary's Catholic Church in Marienthal for the majority of his life.  He was a 3rd Degree member of the Marienthal Knights of Columbus and a 4th Degree member of the Bishop John Franz Assembly.

In 2017, Sy and Norma moved to Anthony, Kansas.  They became members of the St. Joan of Arc Parish.  Sy spent his days riding his scooter up and down Main Street and enjoyed stopping to visit with everyone he met.

Sy and Norma celebrated 68 years of marriage earlier this year.  Sy was a very loving husband, father and grandfather.  He loved his family deeply, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

On December 11, 2019, Sy passed away at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas at the age of 88 years.  He was preceded in death by his parents; great-grandson, Declan Misak; and brothers, Leo, Cyril, Richard, Ronnie, Larry and Cletus.

Sy will be deeply missed by his wife, Norma; his daughter and son-in-law, Phyllis and Gary Misak; grandchildren: Kristi Werth and husband, Duane, Heath Misak and wife, Stephanie, Tawnia Soerensen and husband, Kenn, and Jessi Misak; great-grandchildren: Brendan, Shannon and Sean Hallacy, Ailbe Misak, and Patrick and Kaitlin Werth; brother, Vernon Wasinger; sisters: Marnieta Pile, Kathy Wasinger and Anna Mae Stoppel; his faithful companion, Buddy; and a host of other relatives and many friends.

Recitation of Rosary will be held at 10:00 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial following at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 17, 2019 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Anthony, of the St. Joan of Arc Parish with Father Bob Pinninti as Celebrant.  Graveside service with Military Honors by Fort Riley Honor Guard will be held at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Newton, Kansas.

Cremation has taken place.  Friends may sign the register from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Monday at Prairie Rose Funeral Home in Anthony.

Memorials in memory of Sy may be made to the Knights of Columbus, Harper County EMS, or Wichita County EMS, and may be sent in care of the funeral home.

Prairie Rose Funeral Home, 602 E. Main St., Anthony, KS 67003, is in charge of the arrangements.