Sylvester A. Skoch, 96, of Seneca, Kansas, died Wednesday, November 14, 2012 at Life Care Center in Seneca.

Sylvester was born November 28, 1915, on a farm northwest of St. Benedict, Kansas to Venzle B. and Rose Haefele Skoch. He attended Bellview Grade School near the farm and graduated from Sts. Peter & Paul High School in Seneca in 1937.

After high school Sylvester passed the country teacher examination, and began his teaching career in the fall of 1937 at Dewy School near his home.

On September 25, 1940, he enlisted in the U.S. Army where he served as a medical corpsman and First Sergeant during combat for three years in European and North African theaters of operations. Sylvester was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Meritorious Achievement in Ground Operations against the Enemy. He served in five theaters of WWII: England, North Africa, Italy, France and Germany.

After his discharge from active duty in 1945, Sylvester returned to Seneca where he worked in the Nemaha County Treasurer’s Office for six months. He was then employed for five years in Everest, Kansas as the elementary school principal, 7th and 8th grade teacher and basketball coach. He also attended Emporia State Teachers College during the summer months.

In 1951 he was recalled for active duty with the Army during the Korean Conflict, and served 13 months as a personnel officer in the hospital
at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin. He also served at Camp Pickett, Virginia in the medical replacement training center until his discharge on April 1, 1953.

After this second stint in the military, Sylvester again returned to his teaching career and in 1955 finished his Bachelors of Science degree from Washburn University in Topeka. He completed his Masters in Education by attending Kansas University during the summer for four years. For two years he taught in Bern, Kansas. The remainder of his teaching career was at Meredian Elementary School in Wichita, Kansas, where he taught 6th grade for 20 years. He retired from teaching in 1977.

He then worked as a cabinet maker for three years in the maintenance department at Friends University in Wichita. In 1980, he moved to Seneca where he continued to enjoy woodworking and making cabinets at his shop until his health declined.

He was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Seneca and the St. Joseph’s Society at the church. He was also a member of Knights of Columbus Council #1769 and the American Legion Post #21 in Seneca.

Survivors are a sister, Mildred Mueting of Axtell, and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his brothers, Raymond, Robert and Paul Skoch; and sisters, Anna Marie Carroll and Thelma Key.

A rosary will be prayed at 2 PM Sunday, November 18, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:30 AM Monday, November 19, at St. Mary’s Church in St. Benedict. Burial will be in the church cemetery, with full military honors. He will lie in state from Sunday morning at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorials may be given for St. Mary’s Cemetery.