Max Sylvester

Max Sylvester, 95, of Webster City a long-time area educator who devoted over 50 years to teaching died Saturday, October 31, 2026 at Van Diest Medical Center. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, December 4, 2026 at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. Private burial will be in the Nevada Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 3rd at Foster Funeral and Cremation Center, with rosary and scripture service to begin at 3:30 p.m.

Max Spencer Sylvester, son of Willis and Clara Sylvester, was born October 1, 1931 in Nevada. He received his elementary and secondary education in Nevada. He then enrolled in the Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls. During his sophomore year in college, he entered the United States Navy and served on the USS Coates during the Korean War. During that time, he married his high school sweetheart, Janet Taylor on Mary 16, 1954 at the Nevada Catholic Church.

Max returned to the University of Northern Iowa and graduated in 1958 with a degree in physical education and social studies. He taught social studies and coached in Janesville for a year, then served as counselor for the Belle Plain School District from 1959 to 1962. He went on to counsel at Webster City Junior High and later Webster City Junior College. In 1966 he earned his master’s degree from UNI and became a counselor at Iowa Central Community College. In 1987 he was named campus director of Iowa Centrals Eagle Grove Center, a post he held until retiring in 1996. Max continued to teach part-time at Iowa Central until 2009. His goal as a teacher was to turn out loving, caring people and he knew that the only way to do this was to set an example himself. And that he did!

He was a past member of the Downtown Kiwanis Club, the Eagle Grove Rotary Club, served two terms as the President of the Iowa Community College Student Services Association and a RCIA instructor.

Max was survived by his children, Jim (Brenda) Sylvester of Sarasota, FL, Steve (Katie) Sylvester of Omaha, NE, Susan (Dana) Nimic of Lincoln, NE, Julie (Dale) Olmstead of Webster City, IA, Scott (Debbie) Sylvester of Dana Point, CA; 11 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Janet; his parents; and sister, Patty (Joe) Van Sickle.

Max always had to get in the last word ---- so he said, “Don’t think it hasn’t been”.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. Thomas Catholic School or the Iowa Central Community College, Webster City Campus for the Nursing Program.