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, KS to Venzle B. and Rose Haefele Skoch. He attended Bellview Grade School near the farm and graduated from Sts. Peter and 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 US Army where he served as a corpsman and First Sergeant during combat for three years in European and North African theaters of operations.

Sylvester was awarded the Bronze Star Metal for Meritorious Achievement in Ground Operations against the Enemy and released from active duty in 1945. He served in five theatres of WWII: England, North Africa, Italy, France and Germany.

Sylvester returned to Seneca where he worked in the Nemaha County Treasurers Office for six months. He was employed as the Elementary Principal, Seventh and Eighth grade teacher and basketball coach for five years in Everest, Kansas. He also attended Emporia State Teacher College during the summer months.

In 1951 he was called up for 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.

Sylvester again returned to his teaching career and in 1955 finished his Bachelor’s in Science from Washburn University in Topeka. He completed his Master’s in Education by attending Kansas University during the summer for four years. For two years he taught at Bern, Kansas.

The remainder of his teaching career was at Meredian Elementary School in Wichita, Kansas, where he taught the sixth grade for 20 years. He retired from teaching in 1977. For three years he worked as a cabinet maker in the maintenance department of Friend’s University in Wichita.

In 1980, he moved to Seneca where he continued to enjoy woodworking and making cabinets at his shop until his health prohibited.

He was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church and the St. Joseph’s Society.

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 2 P.M. Sunday at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Mass of Christian burial will be offered 10:30 A.M., Monday November 19, 2012 at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Church Cemetery in St. Benedict with full military honors.

He will lie in state Sunday morning at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorials are for St. Mary’s Cemetery.

To express your sympathy and for more information visit www.lauerfuneralhome.com .