John Thomas Silvernail

John Thomas Silvernail of Yankton, SD passed away early on June 27, 2024, at the age of 86. A private visitation with the family will take place at Goglin Funeral Home, with a later cremation. At Johns’s request, no services will take place.

John was born on May 30, 1938 in Aberdeen, SD to Martin and Katherine (Volk) Silvernail. He attended schools in Richmond, Leola, Aberdeen, Groton and Mitchell. He also attended school in Minneapolis, MN. He was a 1956 graduate of Notre Dame High School in Mitchell. John married Janet Blindauer of Mitchell in October 1959.

He entered the US Navy in 1956 and attended basic training at Great Lakes, IL. He served aboard the Destroyer USS Stormes DD780 for two years. He was honorably discharged in 1959. He was then hired by Northwestern Bell (Century Link) as a lineman and began his telephone career in 1959. He later retired as a regional manager in 1986 in Yankton.

John then served as US Senator Jim Abdnor’s Deputy Campaign Manager in 1986. He was then hired as the Vice President and General Manager of Marquardt Trucking of Yankton from 1987 to 1989. John was then employed as Executive Vice President of Economic Development for the Yankton Chamber and the City of Yankton from 1989 to 1991. He also worked for Summit Precision in Yankton as President from 1991 to 1994. While working the various jobs in Yankton, John served in special areas such as, President of the Yankton Chamber, President of the Yankton Rotary Club, Chairman of the Yankton Red Cross, National Director for the Red Cross, earned six certificates of merit for community service by Northwestern Bell (Century Link) and served 16 years as director for the Chamber of Commerce, Friend of Education for service to the Yankton School District.

John then moved to Madison, SD for employment with the city as Executive Director for the Madison Development Corporation from 1995 to 2002. While there he also served on the board of directors for the Career Learning Center, advisory board of the Beverly Health Care Center, advisory board for the Telecommunications for the City of Madison and as chairman of Madison’s Industrial Park Board.

John returned to Yankton in 2002 and started a new venture. This new job involved attempting to obtain land sites for possible new ethanol plants. He was employed by Northern Plains Real Estate, where he was able to secure land sites in six different states for new ethanol plants. In 2012 John was hired by the SD Human Services Center where he worked for two years. He later went to work at a group home for Ability Building Services, where he was able to work until health issues forced him to retire.

John is survived by his wife, Janet Silvernail; sons, Scott (Mary) Silvernail and Casey (Shannon) Silvernail; daughters, Stacey (Dave) Stephan and Kelli (Adam) Loecker; brothers, Bernie (Carrie) Silvernail, Dave (Sheila) Silvernail and Paul (Patty) Silvernail; sister, Phyllis (Silvernail) Graikowski; grandsons, John (Kara) Silvernail and Cody (Jayna) Silvernail; granddaughters, Abrieana Loecker, Maicie Loecker and Livia Loecker; great-granddaughters, Mackenzie Dean and Quinn Silvernail; great-grandsons, Maverick, Beckett and Eli Silvernail.

John is preceded in death by his father, Martin Silvernail; mother, Katherine (Volk) Silvernail; sister, Jean Silvernail; brothers, James Silvernail and Robert Silvernail.