Barbara J Sylvia

Barbara Joanne Sylvia passed away October 5, 2023 at age 90. She lived in Inverness for the past 23 years.
Born in Fond Du Lac, WI, she spent her childhood vacationing with her family in Door County, WI at her uncle’s Lake Michigan cabin. She had many fond memories of this time and loved improving her artistic talents by taking Door County art classes and workshops. Her grandparents owned Calumet Brewing Company in Chilton, WI, where Barbara grew up. Barbara graduated with honors from the University of Wisconsin with Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.
Barbara was a homemaker who had many interests and hobbies. She was an active member of the Elm Grove (WI) Garden and Woman’s Clubs, a floral arranger, an Elm Grove librarian, a cookbook editor for Ideals Publishing, and an illustrator for Arizona calendars that she and her mother created. She also started a bird sanctuary in Elm Grove. Barbara loved crossword puzzles and reading, especially about Florida history and the writer Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. She was privileged to have once met the renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Barbara was a Lutheran by faith.
Barbara survived three husbands: Norbert Nevid, Paul Schmidlkofer, and Dale Sylvia. She is survived by her daughter Nancy Kryka (James), her sons Nathan “Nate” Nevid (Anne), and Nicholas “Nick” Nevid; 2 grandchildren, Jeff Kryka and Amy Taplin; 2 great grandchildren, Sterling and Maverick (and another on the way); her “Very Special Friend” Tom Mayberry; long-time friends Ken and Diane Gatzke; and her dog Bella.
A Service of Remembrance will be held Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at 11a.m. at the Davis Chapel. Arrangements are under the care of the Chas E. Davis Funeral Home, located at 3075 S. Florida Ave, Inverness, FL 34450.