Edna W. "Lettie" Noelke

Edna W. "Lettie" Noelke nee Roever, 99, of Waterloo, IL, died November 20, 2017, in Waterloo, IL. She was born August 31, 1918, in E. St. Louis, IL.

     She is survived by son Tom (Carol) Noelke, grandson Andy (Laura) Noelke, great grands Madison and Mason, daughter Jane Reh (Thomas Hopkins), grandson Alex Reh (Becky Walling), great grand EttaLou, grandson Max (Samantha) Reh, great grands Hannah and Margaret, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Lettie is preceded in death by her husband Robert Noelke, sisters Norma Zimmer, Elsie Bode, Lucille Burkhardt, and Irma Roever.

     Edna "Lettie" Noelke was born in East St. Louis to Charles and Olga Roever on August 31, 1918.  When she was 1 year old, her family moved to Waterloo where they bought the building on the northeast corner of Main and Mill. This became "Roever's Cafe - A Good Place to Eat".  The family lived upstairs.
     Edna was known as "Redhead", but her sister Norma could not pronounce that and instead called her "Ledhead", which soon became "Lettie". They liked living in downtown Waterloo where they were close to school and church. The sisters took piano and dance lessons which helped develop their love of music.
     Lettie graduated from Waterloo High School in 1936, and enrolled at the University of Illinois majoring in PhysEd. After graduation, she was hired to teach at Oak Grove, a one-room 15-student schoolhouse near Burksville.  
     She married Bob Noelke on July 24, 1943 and after living in Orlando FL, where he was stationed during the war, they moved back to their beloved Waterloo to raise a family.
     When there was a teacher shortage, Lettie once again became a school teacher until she and Bob both decided to retire in order to travel.  After Bob passed, Lettie enjoyed volunteering in the gift shop at Oak Hill and also taught English as a second language.
     After her 1st broken hip at the age of 89 she was determined to get her drivers license when she turned 90, and she did.  She enjoyed "tooting" around town.

As an expression of sympathy the family prefers memorial contributions to: 
Maeystown Preservation Society, Morrison-Talbott Library, Oak Hill Activity Fund, or Oasis International Ministries.

Visitation:
9 AM until time of service Wednesday, November 22, 2017 at Quernheim Funeral Home  
Funeral:
1 PM Wednesday, November 22, 2017 at Quernheim Funeral Home in Waterloo, IL
Pastor Mark Akers officiating
Interment at Kolmer Memorial Cemetery in Waterloo, IL