Sylvester Syl Wotzka

Sylvester "Syl" Wotzka, 89 year old resident of Little Falls, MN died Wednesday, February 8 at his home in Little Falls, MN. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, February 11 at 11:00 A.M. at Our Lady Lourdes Catholic Church in Little Falls, MN with Fr. Mark Innocenti officiating. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Flensburg, MN. Friends may call from 4:00-8:00 P.M. on Friday at Emblom-Brenny Funeral Service in Little Falls and from 9:30-10:30 A.M. on Saturday at the funeral home. The Christian Mothers will pray the Rosary at 4:30 P.M. followed by Parish Prayers at 6:00 P.M. and the Knight's of Columbus at 7:00 P.M. Military Rites will be conducted by the Little Falls V.F.W. Post #1112 and the Flensburg American Legion Post #136. Sylvester "Syl" Wotzka was born December 19, 1922 in Flensburg, Minnesota to the late John and Anna (Jendro) Wotzka. He graduated from Little Falls Community High School with the class of 1940. Syl attended Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis, MN. Syl enlisted in the United States Navy. He was a radio man during World War II onboard the aircraft carrier, USS Fanshaw Bay. He fought in the battle of Leyte Gulf (The greatest sea battle of World War II). He was united in marriage to Geralyn Korll at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Flensburg, MN on October 2, 1951. The couple made their home in Little Falls, MN, where he worked as the Morrison County Veterans Service officer for 36 years. Syl was a kind, gentle and generous man. He was always thoughtful of others. He enjoyed family gatherings and visiting with his children and grandchildren, fishing, golfing, gardening. Syl enjoyed playing baseball especially shortstop. He was the former manager of the Flensburg Falcons. He treasured his time playing baseball, cards, games and reading to his grandchildren. Syl was a former Commander of the Little Falls V.F.W., a member of the American Legion, Knights of Columbus, Polish Club and was the first President of the Parish Council of Our Lady of Lourdes Church. He was a volunteer coordinator with the American Red Cross. Remembering him as a loving husband, father, grandfather and brother are his: loving wife of 60 years, Geralyn "Gerry" Wotzka of Little Falls, MN; children, Paul (Patricia Bailey) Wotzka of Weaver, MN, Timothy Wotzka of Deer River, MN, Terry (Rita) Wotzka of Sauk Rapids, MN, Mary (Scott) Lagaard of Cambridge, MN, Iris Wotzka and Gary Peterson of Stillwater, MN; 10 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Anna (Jendro) Wotzka; siblings, Vince (Francis) Wotzka, Alloysius (Lillian) Wotzka, Jerome Wotzka, Walter (Ann) Wotzka, Florian (Violet) Wotzka, Elias (JoAnn) Wotzka, Emaline (Ann) Wotzka, Mary (Louie) Lente, Stella Wotzka, Cecelia (Guy) Nortman. Casket Bearers will be: Soren Lagaard, Monika Lagaard, Rachel Wotzka, Tim Wotzka, Paul Wotzka, Sam Wotzka Honorary Casket Bearers will be: Anna Wotzka, Terry Wotzka, Rita Wotzka, Scott Lagaard, Patricia Bailey, Iris Wotzka, Gary Peterson. Arrangements for Syl are with Emblom-Brenny Funeral Service in Little Falls, MN.