Stanley Norton Syslack

   Stanley Norton Syslack passed away peacefully at Wheaton Franciscan – All Saints Medical Center on November 23, 2011 at the age of 92.

   Stan was born on December 17, 1918 in Racine Wisconsin.  The son of Martha (nee: Nielsen) and Jonas Syslack, both Norwegian immigrants, Stan was best known as a promoter of lutefisk and anything Norwegian.  He was good-natured and had a sunny disposition and was a friend to all he met.  He was most proud of his loving family.  Stan also had his own rating system for anything he loved.  If you earned four verys (as that Lutefisk was very, very, very, very good) he would promise to write to his Grandmother in Norway to sing your praises.

Stan graduated from Park High School, where he participated on the tennis team and joined the cheerleading squad.  He was a member of the Shell Club and the Thirteen Club at the YWCA where he and twelve other young men gathered to play cards.  Marion Sorensen, Stan’s first wife and her friends formed a companion club called the Gimpers.  After Marion’s death in 1986, Stan married another member of the Gimpers, LaVern Held. He was a life long member of Zion Lutheran Church.

   Stan was united in marriage to Marion Sorensen on September 12, 1942 at the First Baptist Church in Racine.  He and Marion raised their family in Racine.  He worked at Case Company and as a city inspector before his employment at Western Printing for more than 30 years. He was a member of the Western Printing Men’s Choir.  Other interests of his were photography, and travel.  He was an avid golfer, keeping a tee time for his friends every Thursday morning at Ives Grove Golf Course for over 25 years.  He golfed as recently as this fall at the age of 92.  He was also such a frequent customer at Culver’s that he was presented with an honorary hat and royal service by the staff. 

   Stan lost his first wife, Marion, in 1986 after 44 years of marriage.  He married LaVern (nee: Quinn) Held in 1986 and was bereaved again in July 2011 after nearly 25 years of marriage.

   Stan’s survivors include his children, Jeff (Mary) Syslack of Brookfield, WI, Sandy (John) Francis of Las Vegas, Nevada, Joan (Roland) Niebuhr of La Crosse, WI, Robert (Connie) Syslack of Kenosha, WI and his step-daughter, Leah Held of Racine.  He is furthered survived by his grandchildren, Elizabeth (Brian) Randleman of Franklin, WI, Peter (Victoria) Syslack of Sussex, WI, Kate and Theodore Syslack of Kenosha; 5 great grandchildren and other relatives.  He was preceded in death by his parents and his step-father, Robert Martinson; his siblings, Leif Syslack, Margaret Selkurt, Milt Syslack, and his in-laws Harold and Dorothy Sorensen and Al Selkurt .

   Family and friends are invited to meet at Zion Lutheran Church in Racine on Tuesday, November 29, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. for the celebration of Stan’s life and funeral service with Rev. Roger Black officiating.  There will be a visitation in the church on Tuesday from 10-11 a.m.  His burial will follow at Graceland Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorials have been suggested to Zion Lutheran Church 3805 Kinzie Ave., Racine, WI. 53405.

   A special thanks to the staff of Wheaton Franciscan Hospice and the second floor nurses who cared for him the last weeks of his life, as well as the staff at Harmony of Racine.