Jeffrey Allen Sylvester passed away on September 17, 2016 at Great Falls, Montana.
Jeff was born in Superior, Wisconsin on December 25, 1955 to William and Fanny Sylvester.
He graduated from Cook County High School in 1974 and attended Duluth Area Vo-Tech, earning a degree in welding.
He married Annette Knecht on March 3, 1981 at the home of good friends Steve and Robin DuChien in Grand Marais. They were married for 35 years.
Jeff was a founding member of Cook County Search and Rescue. He was an EMT, First Responder and member of Grand Marais Fire Department. He founded Border Country Search and Rescue with his Australian shepherd, Ripple, training search dogs to find lost people.
For many years he operated the Cook County Recycling Center.
Jeff loved his family. He was extremely proud of his son in the Air Force and his daughter-in-law Colleen. He thought the world of his granddaughters Lizzy and Erin.
Jeff loved music. He played guitar and sang and was in several bands over the years – Jeff and Gary, County Line, and most recently Trail’s End.
Jeff built acoustic guitars and was owner of Moose Country Guitars.
He loved to motorcycle and RVing.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Fanny and William Sylvester.
He is survived by his wife Annette; son Ian and his wife, Colleen; granddaughters Elizabeth and Erin; brothers Dennis Sylvester, Leonard (Shirley) Sylvester, and Tod Sylvester; sister Bonnie (Noble) Carlson, as well as many nieces and nephews. He will be deeply missed by Annette’s family, Richard and Dorothy Knecht, Rick and Nancy Knecht and many nephews and niece who loved him dearly.
Memorial Services will be held Thursday September 29, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at Cornerstone Community Church, 1 Cedar Grove Lane, Grand Marais.
A reception with Jeff’s family will follow the service.
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