Sylvin "Syl" Lewis Schetnan

Sylvin Lewis Schetnan was born to Lewis and Florence (DeWaard) Schetnan in Dupree, South Dakota on June 16, 1942. He passed away after a tough battle with cancer on Wednesday, December 21, 2011 at the age of 69. Funeral services will begin at 10:30 A.M. Saturday, December 24th at Zion Lutheran Church in Garretson, SD. Burial will be at Woodlawn Cemetery in Sioux Falls at 9:00 A.M., prior to the service. Visitation will be from 2-8:00 P.M. Friday, December 23rd at Minnehaha Funeral Home in Garretson with the family present from 6-8:00 P.M. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be directed to the St. Francis House of Sioux Falls or the Avera Foundation in Syl's memory.

Syl graduated from Brandon High School in 1960, married Janet Sievers in 1962, and they lived in Brandon until 1973. Since then, Syl and Jan raised their family on B Bar B, acreage outside of Garretson. He worked at Terrace Park Dairy before training to be a plumber-pipefitter. Sylvin worked for various plumbing and environmental control contractors in the Sioux Falls area including Stout Plumbing and Heating, Howe Plumbing and Heating, Johnson Controls and Honeywell Controls. Until his diagnosis, Syl worked as a pipefitter out of the Sioux Falls Local 300 Union.

When asked what he felt his legacy was, he was quick to answer. He said, “Being a charter member of Brandon 12 and 12, faith in God and family. The church saves souls, but AA saves lives.” Syl was a master story teller and knew someone everywhere he went. He enjoyed working on cars, going to auctions, riding motorcycles, having breakfast with his Brandon group on Saturdays, athletics, fishing and “the farm.” His work ethic was only surpassed by his willingness to drop everything to care for someone else.

Syl is survived by his best friend and wife Janet; his children: Kim (Dick) Bartling and Thad (Kim) Schetnan of Sioux Falls and Jennie Schetnan of Baltimore, Maryland; grandchildren: Tyler (Katie) Bartling, Teake Bartling, Sydni Schetnan and Jadyn Schetnan; brothers: Doug (Barb) of Northfield, MN, Ron (Jeanne) of Fergus Falls, MN; David of Breckenridge, MN and Richard of Albuquerque, NM, sister-in-law, Lillian Leitheiser of Sioux Falls; numerous nephews and nieces; and special friend Kay Langin (Lennox). He is preceded in death by his parents.