SYNDERGAARD, Michael L.

SYNDERGAARD, STREUFERT, JOHNSON, NIKLES, KOHN, WITTENBURG, TRIPLETT, KEENE, KRAAYENBRINK, GERDES, SELZER, SCHROEDER, CRONK, LEITZ

Posted By: Lynette Edsall (email)
Date: 10/18/2006 at 10:47:02

Michael L. Syndergaard

SUTHERLAND, Iowa -- Michael Lee Syndergaard, 49, of Sutherland passed away in his sleep at his residence Friday, Oct. 13, 2006.

Services will be 2 p.m. today at Zion Lutheran Church in Paullina, Iowa, with the Rev. Daniel Wagner officiating. Burial will be in Waterman Cemetery, Sutherland. Arrangements are under the direction of Warner Funeral Home in Sutherland, where condolences may be sent online at www.warnerfuneralhome.com.

Michael Lee Syndergaard, the son of Robert E. and Bernice L. (Streufert) Syndergaard, was born Sept. 12, 1957, in Cherokee, Iowa. His childhood years were spent in the Sutherland community, where he received his education, graduating from Sutherland High School in 1975. He continued his education at Iowa State University, where he graduated in 1980 with a degree in business administration. He returned to Sutherland, where he owned and operated the Munch Inn restaurant and catering service and the Night Cap Lounge.

On April 24, 1982, he was united in marriage to Jody Elizabeth Johnson at Zion Lutheran Church in Paullina, Iowa. Two sons, Kaleb and Jarod, were adopted into this union. Following their marriage, they lived in Sutherland, where he used his entrepreneur and business skills to found the Car-Go Express Convenience Store in Sutherland. He later franchised the stores in several communities in northwest Iowa. For a short time in the 1990s, he operated a warehouse that distributed groceries to small grocery and convenience stores in the area. He and a group of close friends co-founded and developed Iowa Outback Getaways in Lake Rathbun, Iowa.

He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, serving on the Zion-St. John School board. He also was a member of the Promise Keepers. He was a very active member of the Sutherland community and a member of the Sutherland Commercial Club, Sutherland Recreation Corporation, Sutherland Economics Development board, South O'Brien School board and many other boards and committees associated with Sutherland and the surrounding area. Fishing and hunting were some of his favorite pastimes as was watching his sons play sports.

He was diagnosed with cancer in the summer of 2005.

He is survived by his wife, Jody of Sutherland; two sons, Kaleb and Jarod Syndergaard, both of Sutherland; his parents, Bob and Bernie Syndergaard of Sutherland; a brother and his wife, Phil and Christy Syndergaard of Sutherland; other relatives; and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his baby sister, Dianne; and his grandparents.

Pallbearers will be John Nikles, Jeff Kohn, Bill Whittenburg, Jeff Triplett, Dave Keene and Randy Kraayenbrink. Honorary pallbearers will be Douglas Gerdes, Lance Selzer, Kenneth Schroeder, John Cronk, Robert Leitz and Burke Johnson.