Sylvester J. "Sy" Korbel

Sylvester J. "Sy" Korbel ObituarySylvester "Sy" Korbel of Watertown, SD passed away at the age of 100 on Friday, September 26, 2025.
Funeral mass will be 10:30am, Wednesday, October 8, 2025 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Watertown. Visitation will be 4:00pm-7:00pm, Tuesday, October 7, 2025, with a Scripture Service, Time of Sharing and Rosary starting at 7:00pm at Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel in Watertown.
Interment will be at St. Mary's Cemetery in Watertown with full military honors to be conducted by the Vietnam Veterans, NE South Dakota Chapter 1054. Pallbearers will be Ernie Vavruska, Tom Kranz, Brian & Gerri DeBoer, Denny Weber, and Al Zaug.
Sylvester "Sy" Joseph Korbel was born on July 5, 1925 to John and Lena (Schneider) Korbel on a farm north of Kranzburg, South Dakota. In 1930 upon the death of his father, the family moved into Kranzburg where they lived until 1937. The family then moved to Watertown, South Dakota. Sy attended elementary school in Kranzburg and Immaculate Conception Catholic School in Watertown. He graduated from Watertown High School in 1943.
Sy joined the United States Coast Guard in 1943 during WWII and served on different ships in the Atlantic and Pacific Theaters at Marseille, France, New Guinea, Okinawa and other areas in the south Pacific. After his honorable discharge in 1946 he returned to Watertown and was employed as a sales truck driver for North American Creameries and Fairmont Foods. For 27 years Sy was employed by the Watertown Post Office, retiring in 1987.
Sy fell in love with Mary Person and the couple was married on October 1, 1949 in the "Old" Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Watertown. Sy and Mary raised seven children and were married just short of 62 years. Mary passed away on September 3, 2011.
He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.
He was an avid beer can collector for many years traveling around the U.S. going to trade shows and flea markets to line his basement walls with his 3,000 can collection. His other hobby after retirement was junking, scrapping all metals for recycling. He also had a passion for volunteer work, helping with the K.C. bingo every Thursday night and the I.C. paper/cardboard recycling crew one to two times a week. He spent many countless hours doing both.
Sy loved people. Being surrounded by others brought a joy to his heart and a story or joke to his lips. His smile was infectious. He felt blessed to call Edgewood Independent Living his home the last six years of his life. He enjoyed all of his special pinochle playing friends and the gracious women who allowed his presence at their coffee-break table.
Sy truly was a man on the move and enjoyed being active. His motto was, "if you're going to do something-do it now!" He was quick to give God all thanks and glory for a long and healthy life and for wonderful friends and family.
Sy will be dearly missed by his children, Edward Korbel of Aberdeen, SD, Michael (Cheryl) Korbel of Willow Lake, SD, Sheila Coplan of Watertown, SD, John (Lynette) Korbel of Watertown, SD, Karen (John) Evans of Spearfish, SD, Mary (Mitch) Johnson of Watertown, SD and Doug Korbel of Watertown, SD; nine grandchildren, Dawn (Chris) Birgen, Matt (Kim) Coplan, Justin (Steph Smith) Korbel, Leah Coplan, Johnnie (Adrienne Evans) Korbel, Christi (Dan) VanderWal, Kyle (Lynn) Johnson, Jason (Shanna) Korbel and Jared Johnson; 11 great-grandchildren, Ella Birgen, Sloan McLagan, Gavin, Micah and Colin VanderWal, Selah, Sylas and Sawyer Korbel, Cameron, Sophie and Janie Johnson.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mary; and his grandson, Nathan Korbel.
Arrangements by Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel ~ www.wightandcomes.com
Sylvester "Sy" Korbel of Watertown, SD passed away at the age of 100 on Friday, September 26, 2025.
Funeral mass will be 10:30am, Wednesday, October 8, 2025 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Watertown. Visitation will be 4:00pm-7:00pm, Tuesday, October 7, 2025, with a Scripture Service, Time of Sharing and Rosary star