Sylvia Jean Willmott

Sylvia Jean Willmott, age 83, of North Mankato, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 16, 2021 at Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato, MN.

Memorial Mass will be held at 11am, Wednesday, July 21, 2021 at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church (423 W. 7th Street, Mankato, MN 56001). Graveside service will be held at 11am, Thursday, July 22, 2021 at Fairview Cemetery in White, SD. Following the burial, a reception will follow at St. Paul Catholic Church (102 W. 5th Street, White, SD 57276). Please share a memory of Sylvia with her family online at www.mankatomortuary.com.

Sylvia Jean (Kurschner) Willmott was born June 8, 1938 in Prairie Farm, WI. She was the daughter of Harry and Edna (Marschall) Kurschner. She graduated from Prairie Farm High School in 1956 and moved to Minneapolis, MN, working as a telephone operator and key punch operator. This was where she met S. Thomas Willmott. They were married on November 23, 1957. This union was blessed with six children.

Sylvia was an active member of St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, and in later years, their quilting group. Sylvia was a beautiful seamstress, making most of her children’s clothes when they were growing up. Sylvia loved to cook, bake, and entertain. Her weekly bread baking was always a hit with the afternoon coffees with the neighbor ladies.

Sylvia and Tom first made their home in the Minneapolis area and later settled in Mankato with their growing family. After the kids were all in school, Sylvia went to work in the family business, Willmott’s Business Machines.

They moved to Reliance, SD in 1986 where her love of cooking and entertaining continued. She and Tom hosted many weekends of pheasant hunters. She also enjoyed raising pigs and chickens and tending to her large garden. Sylvia moved back to the Mankato area in 2004, settling in North Mankato. She moved to Oak Terrace Independent Living Community in 2018 where she resided until her death.

Sylvia was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Tom.

Sylvia is survived by her children, Julie (John) Christensen of Brandon, SD, Michael (Deb) Willmott of Cleveland, MN, Sandra (Taylor) Murphy of North Mankato, MN, Mary Kaye (Rick) Johnson of Ellsworth, WI, Bradley (Shannon) Willmott of Farmington, MN, and David (Barb) Willmott of Farmington, MN; 19 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; sisters, Barbara Bender of Prairie Farm, WI and Charlotte Bottolfson of Osceola, WI; brother-in-law, Raymond (Jeanne) Willmott of Owatonna, MN; and sisters-in-law, Carol (George) Covrig of Brookings, SD, Patricia (David) Landsman of Elkton, SD, and Brenda Willmott of Austin, MN; and many nieces and nephews.

As a family, we would like to extend many thanks to Mayo Cardiology, Sue Haugh, Terri, and their staff for the excellent care they provided Mom these past few years.