Sylvester J. "Whitey" Nolte

Sylvester J. "Whitey" Nolte, 82, of Baileyville, Kansas, died Sunday, December 8, 2002, at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca, Kansas.
     He was born November 28, 1920, on a farm southwest of Seneca, the son of Aloysius and Mary Krogman Nolte. He attended Sts. Peter & Paul School at Seneca and helped on the family farm. As a young man, he went to Pocahontas, Iowa, with his brothers Ed and Charles and worked on farms for several years. On August 29, 1942, during World War II, he entered the US Army where he served with the 246th Field Artillery Battalion as a cannoneer in the Pacific theater. He was discharged on February 14, 1946.
     On February 11, 1950 he married Genevieve A. "Genny" Schmitz at St. Mary's Church at St. Benedict. He farmed south of Baileyville where they lived until 1966 when their home burned down. They moved to a farm west of Baileyville where he farmed and operated a dairy. In 1966 he also began work at the Nemaha County Co-op at Baileyville until his retirement in November of 1985. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in February of 2000. In October of 2000 due to health problems, he entered Country View Estates Care Home at Seneca. His wife "Genny" preceded him in death on February 15, 2002.
     He was a member of Sacred Heart Church at Baileyville and the American Legion Post #214 for over 50 years at Axtell. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus at Axtell. He liked everything to do with farming and especially feeding calves. Whitey was a friendly man who enjoyed playing cards with his friends.
     Survivors are four sons, Dan Nolte of Burrton, Kansas, Don Nolte of Beattie, Tom Nolte of Sabetha, KS, Jerry Nolte of Seneca; two daughters, Caroline Kramer of Axtell and Melanie Lierz of Seneca; a brother, Regis Nolte of Topeka; two sisters, Marie Mulroy of Holton and Virginia Huggins of Sabetha; 19 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
     Besides his wife he was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Stacey Nolte on October 23, 1973; three brothers, Cyril, Edwin, and Charles; two sisters, Loretta Niekamp and Lucille Feger.
     The mass of Christian burial will be 11 A.M. Wednesday at Sacred Heart Church in Baileyville. The burial will be in the church cemetery with military honors by the Axtel American Legion. The rosary will be prayed at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca on Tuesday at 2 and 7 P.M.
     Memorials may be given for Sacred Heart Cemetery or the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital and sent in care of the family.