Sylvia Rejcha was born on March 8, 1921 to Charles and Alice Stastny Rejcha on a farm by Hallam, Nebraska. She attended rural school District 117 through the eighth grade. She continued her education at Hallam High School graduating with honors as Salutatorian on May 11, 1939. She worked on the farm with her parents after graduation, and also helped other families as a hired girl when they needed help. After World War II broke out, she took a job working at Fairmont Creamery breaking eggs for the military at home and overseas. These eggs were dried and used in military meals which did not require refrigeration and could be reconstituted later. After some time she was advanced to work in the test room testing eggs, cream, milk and butter.

On March 10, 1943, she was united in marriage to Robert Tenopir of Crete while he was home on Army leave. When Robert's father was diagnosed with cancer, she quit her job to help on the Tenopir family farm.

When Robert returned from the US Army in 1945, they started farming on land three miles north of Wilber, raising chickens, ducks, geese and hogs, as well as milking cows as all farmers did in those days. Their first child, Betty Ann, was born premature on May 1, 1947 and lived only a short time. John Robert, Jeanette Marie and Teresa Ann followed, all being born in the time they lived on the farm.

After losing crops to heavy rain and high floodwaters followed by drought, they gave up farming and moved to Crete in November of 1957. Sylvia then worked for Dorsey Café evenings until Robert was able to secure a full-time job. After that, she was a stay-at-home mother, caring for the children and raising a large garden. Later, she worked for the Crete Public Schools and the City Library. From her vegetable garden, she canned and froze much of the produce for the winter, and sharing the extra with friends and neighbors. She had an extensive iris garden and learned how to hybridize plants. She shared iris plants that went to several states through Iris Societies. She exhibited and received many awards in flower shows. Later she added African Violets to her indoor collection. Sylvia often donated plans to civic groups, local organizations and Regional Iris Society auctions.

Sylvia served as a typist with the American Red Cross for 35 years at local blood drives in Crete, volunteered with the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Lincoln for 19 years, and helped with quilting at the Crete Senior Center. In 1978 she was honored in the permanent 1976-77 edition of Who's Who in Nebraska. For 26 years she worked for the Saline County Election Board as well as several other elections. She was an Assistant Superintendent of Flowers with the Saline County Fair for ten years. Sylvia enjoyed baking kolache and rolls for organizations and friends.

Enjoyed belonging to the organizations that mirrored her varied interests, Sylvia served as an officer in many specialized plant society groups such as the Federated Garden Club, Blue Valley Iris Society, Lincoln Iris Society, American Iris Society, American Rose Society, Town and Country African Violet Society, and the Crete Garden Club. Additionally, she was the Round Robin Chairman for the Region 21 for the Iris Society.

A patriotic individual, she was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 147, serving as historian, secretary and all-around typist.

While being an accomplished individual in many areas, she was not immune to health issues. In 1990, she became a cancer survivor, having survived melanoma. She experienced also Bell's Palsy, a ruptured appendix (as a child), short-term paralysis due to lymphoma (tumor), and a variety of surgeries for a number of physical ailments.

She is survived by her son John of Lincoln, NE; daughter Jeanette Galliardt of Marlborough, MA; daughter Teresa Unruh (Gary) of Newton, KS; grandchildren Laura (Galliardt) Moulton (David) of Auburn, MA; Michael Galliardt of Worcester, MA; Lisa (Unruh) Dick (Ward) of Newton, KS; Kristin (Unruh) Nolan (Alex) of Shelby Township MI, and great-grandchildren Thomas Merrill Moulton, Auburn, MA; Mackenzie Dick, Jocelyn Dick and Hunter Dick Newton, KS; sister LaVerne Johnston (Harry) of Lincoln, NE, and brother Milo Rejcha (Alice) of Lincoln and Crete, NE. She was preceded in death by her husband Robert, infant daughter Betty Ann, her parents, and sisters Evelyn and Helen. Memorials may be given to UNL Czech Language Foundation or to the American Iris Society, in lieu of flowers.

Private graveside services will be held with Kuncl Funeral Home in Crete in charge of arrangements.