Sylvester "Sy" Selenke

Sylvester ‘Sy’ Ferdinand Selenke was born on June 4th, 1939, to Magdalena and John Selenke in Grainfield, Kansas. He was the 5th of 7 children.         

After graduating from South-East High in 1958, he married Connie Prouse in 1959. To this union, they were blessed with 3 wonderful children, Diane, David and Lori.         

Sy loved to coach his children’s sports teams growing up. He was much harder on them than he was on the other players because he wanted their success. He even got kicked out of a game because of his passion. At volleyball games, no one would sit by him because he would be pacing to and from to watch the ball.         

He loved to fish. When Sy wasn’t working or coaching, he would be fishing. He loved to be on the road in their R.V. trying to find the next fishing spot. He enjoyed cooking his catch for all his family and friends, even if that meant he didn’t get any. This passion was something he passed along to his son and a lot of his grandsons and great grandsons as well.         

Sy worked for Little Debbie, Rainbow bread and retired from Roadway when he was 58.         

Ask any of his grandkids and they will tell you he was the orneriest person they knew. He loved to razz all of them constantly or tell them “We aren’t taking a nap; we’re just resting our eyes”. Sy also enjoyed teaching his grandsons how to do carpentry work. If you ask any of them, they will all tell you that they were grandpas’ favorite. He made them all feel that way because he loved them fiercely.         

The great grandkids were always greeted with a “hey”, a handshake and a quarter. This will be something they will all treasure forever.         

Connie and Sy moved to Harlingen, Texas to become snowbirds. Sy loved to hop on the golf cart and drive around the park and he made some lifelong friends and lasting memories.         

They moved back to Caldwell, KS in 2019, where they became members of the St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church. He loved telling his hospice nurse Clarissa, that he was a good Catholic.          

On June 7th, 2025, Sy was able to celebrate his 86th birthday surrounded by his family and friends. He just couldn’t get over all the people that were there to celebrate him. It was a special day filled with tears, laughter and storytelling.         

Sy went to be with Jesus on June 24, 2025, at the age of 86 in his home in Caldwell KS.         

He is preceded in death by his wife Connie Selenke, parents, Magdalena and John Selenke, siblings, Agnes Harris and brother-law Gene, Elnora Selenke, Pete Selenke, sister-in-law Jane, Johnny and Donnie Selenke and sister-in-law Glenda.         

Sy is survived by his children, Diane Creed and husband Lonnie of Caldwell, KS; David Selenke and wife Dixie of Viola, KS; and Lori Ehrlich and husband Doug of Wichita, KS. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Kendal, Kelsey and husband Bryan, Nick, Erica, Adam, Sarah and husband Thomas, Ryan and wife Jerrica, Travis and wife Sarah, Brandon, Kyle and wife Ashleigh, and Taylor; great-grandchildren, Adrianna, Anson, Karter, Lena, Dayton, River, Bailey, Rachel, Zander, Conner, Denver, Addy, Baxley, Cora, Noah, Zeke, Levi, Malachi, Salem, Eveline, Brynn, Bowen, Wells, Faye, Landrie, Breckyn, Banning, Iris, Lolo, Gage, Kinsley, Matt, Lily and Will; great-great-grandchildren, Atlas and Lucy. He is also survived by his sister Phyllis Favero of Georgia, brother-in-law Lyle Prouse and wife Barbara of Georgia, sister-in-law Mary Anne Parks and husband Lowell and many other relatives and friends.

Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be held at 7:00 p.m. Sunday, June 29, 2025. Mass of the Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, June 30, 2025 both at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church in Caldwell, KS with Fr. Mike Klag presiding. Graveside services will follow at 2:00 p.m. at Calvary Cemetery in Wichita, Kansas.

          Memorials may be made to Gentiva Hospice and sent in care of the mortuary.

          Visitation will be held 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Thursday – Saturday and 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Sunday.