EMERALD WYMAN SAYLER
Emerald Wyman Sayler, of Lodi, passed away peacefully at age 92 on November 28, 2016 at Lodi Memorial Hospital after battling a multitude of complications from hip surgery in August.
Born on October 14, 1924 to George and Rose Sayler in Underwood , North Dakota. He was raised on family farms surrounded by grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins and siblings, who all became his lifelong friends. He especially enjoyed helping on his Grandmother Landenberger’s farm.
In 1939, the George Sayler family moved to Walnut Grove, California on the Sacramento River. At age 13, still attending school, he joined the carpenters Union and began to work as an apprentice. His family moved to Lodi the summer of 1942. He graduated from Lodi High School with the class of 1943. Upon graduation, Emerald went to work full time as a carpenter. In 1967, while building Gemco, he was forced to retire because of major injuries sustained after a crane knocked him off of the top of a concrete slab. There are many private and commercial buildings throughout the greater Lodi area that he helped to construct. He was so proud of the work he did during the construction of the Ebenezer Congregational Church on Central Ave. where he was a charter member and was always active in a leadership role.
In 1945, he was drafted into the Army. He was later sent to Japan during the reconstruction period. As a journeyman carpenter, he ran construction crews when he was 22 years old.
He married his beloved wife Geraldine in 1950 and they celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary on September 3, 2016. Immediately after their wedding he was drafted into the Korean War. He was one of 30,000 United Nation troops who were encircled and attacked by 120,000 Chinese troops at the Chosin Reservoir on November 27- December 13, 1950. He fought in subzero weather with summer gear and was one of the “Chosin Few” to fight their way out of the area. A proud member of the Men of the Chosin, he and Geraldine enjoyed traveling the world with other Chosin Few Army and Marine veterans.
Emerald was an avid gardener, hunter and fisherman. He especially loved to hunt duck, geese, deer and elk with his family members and friends. He also loved to play his guitar or piano and sing to all who would listen. He was a faithful member of the church choir at Ebenezer Congregational Church for 60 years, offering praise to God in song.
Emerald is survived by his wife, Geraldine Sayler, and daughters Yvonne Kiedrowski (Randy) of Lodi and Debbie Reynolds (Rick) of Chico. He is also survived by his grandchildren Alethea Lively of Oklahoma, Olivia Labor (Dallas) of San Diego, Jessica and Serena Reynolds of Chico and three great-grandchildren, Taylor, Sara and Erick Lively of Oklahoma, and his siblings, bother Rev Bernard Sayler, and sisters, Bernice Thacker and Betty Shannon-Gesler.
A memorial celebrating Emeralds life will be held on Saturday, January 14, 2017 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 701 S Pleasant Ave, Lodi, CA at 3 pm in Morton Hall. Gifts of song, poetry, and stories will be welcome during this celebration.
Memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Men of the Chosin Scholarship fund or to a charity of your choice.
Please sign the guest book at www.lodinews.com/guestbook.