It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our Sylvia (86), who peacefully left us on the morning of July 30th with all three of her children at her bedside. After a long and courageous battle with dementia, she is finally at peace. The loving care given to her by her daughter, Tami, who became her full-time caregiver, amazed all the medical staff involved in Sylvia's care by helping her survive several years beyond the average expectancy with her stage of disease. We can never thank Tami enough for her sacrifice of love and dedication to our mother.

In the small town of Sturgis, SD Sylvia became a mom to most all our friends. She always had cookies or cakes, and it was not unusual for us to have several extra mouths to feed as we sat down for our nightly dinners. The condolence calls, emails, and text messages have been pouring in from all the recipients of her endless generosity as she touched so many lives. Her coworkers from her 44 years serving our veterans as an RN at the Fort Meade VA medical center are equally broken hearted knowing her as one of the most dedicated, loyal, and compassionate nurses to ever walk the hallways of the Ft. Meade facility.

She was born and raised in Woden, Iowa on a small farm. Her parents, Cooney and Sena (Tjaden) Kramer, had six children: Charles, Ruth Ann, Donna, Sylvia, Forrest, and Donald.

Sylvia met and married her husband Joseph E. DesJarlais while attending nursing school in Marshalltown, Iowa. Joe was working as an architect and was making extra money by selling pots and pans door to door when he met our mother. She bought a set of pans in 1960 not knowing that they came with a future husband. (Several of those pans are still in the cupboards today). They married on August 20th of 1960, moved to Ames, and then to Des Moines. They had three children: Tami, Joe P, and Scott. In 1964 they moved to Sturgis SD so that Joe could help his father in the barber business. It was at this time Sylvia started working at Ft. Meade. In 1970 they eventually settled in the same residence as Joe's parents, Joseph H. and Mae DesJarlais, who moved to Sturgis from Norris SD in 1941. The current residence, better known as the Sturgis Hideaway, is home to DesJarlais Farms and an annual gathering place for dozens of Bikers who venture annually to the Sturgis Bike Rally.

Sylvia is preceded in death by her parents, husband Joe (2017), and all her siblings except for Forrest who still lives in Iowa. She is survived by her three children: Tami, Joe P (wife Sharon), Scott (wife Amy), and five grandchildren: Kristina, Joe IV, Tyler, Ryan, and Maggie.

We recommend any memorial gifts should be attributed to any number of veteran organizations such as Tunnels to Towers Foundation, or one of your choosing. We know mom would love nothing more than to know she is continuing to help those who have served and sacrificed for our great nation.

It was mom's desire to be cremated, and her ashes will be placed with her husband, Joe, at a family burial plot at Bear Butte cemetery in Sturgis.

A celebration of life is planned at the Sturgis Hideaway, 1335 Ballpark Rd, Sturgis, SD 57785 on August 31st at 1pm. All family members and friends are welcome to join us for fellowship, snacks, libations, and most of all, sharing of fond memories and stories to honor this incredible lady who gave so much to so many.

Dress code is relaxed casual, South Dakota summer picnic attire. Please be comfortable.