John Robert Nolte
1924-2016


John Robert Nolte was born February 28, 1924 in Subiaco, Logan Co., Ar. to Josef & Gertrude Spanke Nolte, both born in Germany. 28 Feb 1946 John married Doris Edith Ogden of Pierce Co., Washington state.

June 8, 1943, while a student at Subiaco Academy John was drafted into the US Army at Little Rock, Arkansas. He states that he has completed 1 year of high school. More about his service can be found below in his obituary. about his time in the service.

John Robert Nolte passed away March 16, 2016 at Tacoma, Washington.
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John R. Nolte of Tacoma, Washington died at the age of 92 on March 16, 2016 with his sons Walter and Paul, and daughter Janet at his side. Funeral mass will be celebrated Monday, March 28th at 10:30am at St. Ann's Catholic Church.

John was born February 28, 1924 in Subiaco, Arkansas. John was the 2nd oldest of 8 children by Joseph and Gertrude Nolte who emigrated from Germany in 1922. John attended Subiaco Academy Catholic School, and was drafted during WWII while attending high school. He was honorably discharged in 1946 and subsequently served three enlistments with the Reserves, Army Corp of Engineers, leaving the Army in 1962 as an E-8 First Sergeant. He was always proud and honored to serve our country!

John and his beloved wife Doris married 70 years ago on February 28, 1946, on John's 22nd birthday. They raised four children in a well-loved neighborhood on South I Street in Tacoma, sent their children to Catholic schools to learn the message of Christ, and taught them the importance of hard word, dedication, and family values. John favorite pastime included golfing and giving lessons, especially to his grandchildren in the back yard of their family home. He was an avid and excellent golfer! He played at St. Andrews Scotland, Pebble Beach California, Fianna Hills Arkansas, and various other courses throughout the country, and his fond memory was playing "Alaska at midnight at the most northern course in the world".

He retired in 1990 after 27 years as a civil servant at Fort Lewis, Department of the Army, and Troop Support Agency for the Western Commissary Region. John was head of the Meat and Produce Section of all commissaries in the Western Region, serving north to south from Alaska to Panama, and west to east from Washington, California and Arizona to Korea and Japan. His career took him to those places, always with pride and honor to serve the military families of our country. Retired, John demonstrated his dedication to Veterans by volunteering nearly 1200 hours over seven years at the Veterans Administration golf course.

John is survived by three children, sons Dr. Walter (Becky), Paul (Daphne), daughter Janet, daughter-in-law Gayle; 7 grandchildren: Tabatha, Nicole, Alexis, Andrew, Chris, Ryan and Amber, and 4 great grandchildren: Isabel, Julia, Madeline and Flynn, sisters Mary Lou Marley and Joan Greenstreet.

John is preceded in death by his wife, Doris (deceased 2003); son, David (deceased 2011); parents, Joseph and Gertrude Nolte; brothers, Walter, Joe, Al; sisters, Elizabeth Villiard and Gertie Gramlich; nieces, Paula Richardson and Cindy Toth; and great-nephew, Aiden Hooper.

Pallbearers will be his grandchildren.

Donations may be made to St. Ann Catholic Church, 7025 S Park Ave, Tacoma, WA 98405 OR the Walter H. Nolte Scholarship Fund, Subiaco Academy, 405 North Subiaco Avenue, Subiaco, AR 72865-9798

The family wishes to express their appreciation to Tammy Stimach with Arbor Rose Adult Family Home and her team of loving caregivers, especially Tony, Tsiola, and George who took care of John for the last 3 years. Please leave online condolences at www.gaffneycares.com. Arrangements by Gaffney Funeral Home, 253-572-6003.