Donald Roy Sylvester, 72, of Inver Grove Heights, MN passed away peacefully at his home on September 22, 2026 after a 15-year battle with cancer.

He was born on March 10, 1954 to Sidney and Lois (Styrlund) Sylvester in Minneapolis, MN. He was a 1972 graduate of Minnehaha Academy where he played football and played on the traveling Park Avenue Covenant Basketball Team. On August 1, 1992 he married Mary Williams at St. Richard’s Catholic Church in Richfield, MN.

Don worked a variety of jobs over the years and retired from FedEx in 2017. He also operated his own businesses Suburban Snow Plowing and Don’s House Painting. He continued managing the family properties since his father’s death in 2002.

He often drove his lawn tractor around to visit his neighbors. More recently he enjoyed sitting at the patio table where neighbors and friends would stop in for a visit or a wave as they drove by. He enjoyed watching the Minnesota Twins, Vikings, The Wild and was a big Nascar fan.

He will be greatly missed and forever remembered by his wife Mary; mother Lois Sylvester; sisters and brothers-in-law Lori & Robert Brown and Jodi & John Brunner; his Williams family Kenneth & Elaine Williams, Donna & Gary Barclay, Lisa Williams and Kevin Williams; nephews, nieces, aunts and many friends. He was preceded in death by his father Sidney Sylvester; father and mother-in-law Anthony & Anita (Sibenaller) Williams; brother Craig Sylvester; sister and brother-in-law Beverly (Williams) & Oliver Ewing; grandparents Emil & Florence (Lindell) Styrlund and Guy & Alice (Kirkwold) Sylvester; several uncles and aunts.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend funeral services at Church of St. Joseph, 13900 Biscayne Avenue, Rosemount, MN on September 30, 2026 at 11:00am with visitation starting one hour before the service. Following the lunch, burial will be at St. Patrick’s Cemetery, 10499 Rich Valley Road, Inver Grove Heights, MN.