Bertha Marie Sylvester

Bertha Marie (Diskau) Sylvester was born on January 8, 1913, in Riley, Kansas, to Henry L. and Eugenie (Wieland) Diskau. She grew up in the Riley, Kansas area, graduated from Riley High School, and resided near Riley until she met the love of her life, Wesley Sylvester, and married on January 16, 1935, at Riley and shared over 73 years of marriage. In the early years of their marriage, they farmed south of Riley and, at that time, their four children were born. In 1966, they relocated to rural Ottawa after their farm was taken by the Ft. Riley Reservation expansion. Bertha was a devoted farm wife and a hard worker, a member of Magic, Riley and Trinity United Methodist Churches, active in KSU extension activities, 4-H and EHU, Farm Bureau and church activities most of her life, serving as chairperson of United Methodist Women and delegate to annual conference. She had a strong faith and passed it on to her family. She devoted much time to her grandchildren and was loved and respected by all of them. She was a caregiver to her husband`s parents, family members and to her husband for most of her life. She and her husband loved to collect antiques and traveled many miles to participate in car tours with their 1930 Packard and other vintage cars. They were often seen in parades and proudly chauffeuring young newlyweds from their weddings. They loved to host family reunions and picnics at their home in rural Ottawa. She is survived by her two sons, Russell and his wife, Sandy, and Clyde and his wife, Debra, all of Ottawa; daughter, Janice Chapman and her husband, Wayne, of Haines City, Florida, eight grandchildren, Kay Selman and husband, Mike, Kris Wallace and husband, Terry, Ron Sylvester and wife, Angela, Alex Chapman and wife, Jennifer, Jonathan Chapman, Jessica, Kathryn and Philip Sylvester. Also great grandchildren, Ashley, Hayden, Mikayla, and Nathan Selman, Taylor and Jamie Allan, Wesley, Jacob and Vincent Sylvester and Cassandra and Madison Chapman. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, son Duane, sister Frieda Fanning and brother, Ernest Diskau. Her family and friends will miss her... SERVICES: Funeral services will be held from the Dengel & Son Mortuary at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 9, 2008. IN STATE: Friends may pay their respects to Mrs. Sylvester at the Dengel & Son Mortuary after 9:00 a.m. Friday to the service hour, where the family will meet with friends at 9:00 a.m. Saturday prior to the services. INTERMENT: Graveside interment services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 9, 2008, at Riley Cemetery in Riley, Kansas. MEMORIALS: The family suggests memorials to Trinity United Methodist Church, c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.