Sylvia Elaine Neis

Sylvia Elaine (Gerstenberger) Neis was born on December 8, 1936, to Walter and Elsie (Dalby) Gerstenberger.  She had 3 siblings: Doris (died in 1934 at the age of 4 from a farm accident), Joan (died in 1933 at the age of 18 months from measles and pneumonia), and Wayne (1934-2020).  She married Clifford Raymond Neis in 1961 at St. Paul United Church of Christ.  She has been a lifelong member of St. Paul.

Sylvia attended a one-room school at Hesper until the 5 ^th grade when she joined Eudora Elementary.  She graduated in 1954 from Eudora High School.  Sylvia graduated on a Friday and started working as a CNA at Lawrence Memorial Hospital the next Monday.  She worked all summer until the day before starting Nursing School at Stormont Vail in Topeka.  In 1957, Sylvia graduated and passed boards to become a RN.  Sylvia worked for 5 years at Stormont Vail and 5 years at LMH. With the birth of her first son in 1967, she prioritized family and stayed home with her 3 boys until the Eudora Nursing Home called her and asked her to come work.  She worked there for 28 years, retiring in December 2005, as the Director of Nursing at the age of 69.  Sylvia raised her family in her childhood home.  After retirement, she continued to care for her family and grandchildren, spent time gardening and reading, and was active in her church.

Sylvia is survived by sons James Clifford (Kelly), Dale Raymond (Patricia), and Stanley Peter (Kari); 8 grandchildren: Travis, Tracy, Brett, Josh, Kaylee, Tyler, Taylor, and Pete; and one great grandchild, Foster; nieces and nephews: Stephanie, Terry, Daryl, Eric, and Jill.

Sylvia was preceded in death by parents Walter and Elsie; siblings Doris, Joan, and Wayne; spouse, Clifford; and niece, Stacie.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, August 30, 2023 at Warren-McElwain Mortuary-Eudora Chapel in Eudora, KS. Burial will follow at Eudora Cemetery.

The family will greet friends from 6-8 p.m., Tuesday, August 29, 2023 at the Eudora Chapel.

The family suggests memorials to the Eudora 4-H or to Sylvia Neis Memorial Scholarship in care of Eudora High School or St. Paul United Church of Christ and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13 ^th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.