Rev. Helmuth Sylvester

The Rev. Helmuth Sylvester, 88, of Henderson, Nev., died there Friday, May 16, 2003.

He was born Dec. 24, 1914, in Inver Grove, Minn., son of August and Martha Schumacher Sylvester. He and Viola Sagnes were married Aug. 20, 1940. She died Jan. 7, 2002.

Sylvester was a graduate of Concordia Seminary and ordained into the ministry in 1938. He received a master of business administration degree from St. Louis University in 1960.

He was a vicar in Three Rivers, Texas, in 1937. His pastorates included Swan River, Alberta, Canada, 1938 to 1942; Plumas, Alberta, 1942; Long Prairie Township, Minn., 1942 to 1948; Concordia Publishing House, 1948 to 1973; Trinity Lutheran Church at Egypt Mills, 1973 to retiring in 1992.

Sylvester stared a black mission in East St. Louis, Ill., in 1950 and pastored there until 1960. He served as vice president of East St. Louis NAACP, edited a Spanish Bible story book, and was pastoral assistant at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in St. Louis.

Survivors include a son, Delwin Sylvester of Maplewood, Mo.; a daughter, Gloria Bruning of Henderson; two brothers, Eugene Sylvester of Broomfield, Colo., Louis Sylvester of Denver, Colo.; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a grandchild.

Friends may call at Trinity Lutheran Church in Egypt Mills after 1 p.m. Thursday.

The funeral will be at 3 p.m. Thursday at the church, with the Rev. Mark Martin officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.