John Edward Silvernail

John Silvernail passed away unexpectedly on Friday, November 14, 2025, at Essentia Health in Fargo, ND, surrounded by his wife and daughters.

John Edward Silvernail was born February 22,1952 in Breckenridge, MN, to Henry and Eloise (Benson) Silvernail. He grew up in Milnor, ND, and then Minot, ND. He graduated from Lisbon High School in Lisbon, ND, in 1970.

In 1988, he went to Virginia and met the love of his life, Shelly Wood, bringing her and their daughters back to Lisbon in 1992, where he spent the next 22 years working for the City of Lisbon. In 2014 he retired and enjoyed the next 11 years with his wife and daughters.

He loved bowling, golfing, and tinkering. He was a historian and storyteller who loved visiting with others. He was a natural teacher and mathematician. The only thing he loved doing more than solving puzzles was his love of making others laugh.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Eloise Silvernail; brothers, George Silvernail and Robert “Bob” Silvernail; sisters Louise Odegard, Hazel Gaudreau, and Adeline Silvernail.

He is survived by his sister, Doris Medenwaldt; wife, Shelly; daughters Sarah Silvernail, Margaret “Maggie” Silvernail, and Shylan Peterson and her son, Jace.