Noecker, Myrtle Louise (Casterton) -- 1925 - 2000

BUSNESS, CASTERTON, NOECKER, RICHTER, OLSON, FADNESS, SWENSON, WERMAGER

Posted By: IA GenWeb Volunteer
Date: 6/28/2010 at 20:31:36

Decorah Public Opinion, Tuesday, July 25, 2000

Myrtle Louise Noecker

Myrtle Louise Noecker, 75, Decorah died Saturday, July 22, 2000 at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, Wis. following a sudden illness.

The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 26 at First Lutheran Church with burial in Lutheran Cemetery.

Visitation is Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at Fjelstul Funeral Home with an American Legion Auxiliary Service at 7 p.m. Tuesday and on Wednesday after 10 a.m. at church.

Fjelstul Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Casket bearers will be Roger Casterton, James S. Casterton, Charles Casterton, John Casterton, Jeffrey Swenson and David Fadness.

Honorary casket bearers are 1943 Decorah High School classmates and the American Legion Auxiliary past district presidents.

Pastor Steven Jacobsen will be officiating.

Myrtle Casterton was born April 15, 1925 to Josiah R. and Augusta (Busness) Casterton at home in Highland Township in Winneshiek County.

She graduated from Decorah High School in 1943 where she took the Normal Training Course. She also earned additional credits by taking correspondence courses in sociology and psychology.

She married Melvin James Noecker June 15, 1946 at Highland Lutheran Church.

They lived in Kansas City, Mo. where her husband attended the Kansas City School of Watchmaking in 1946 and 1947, before moving to Decorah. Myrtle taught in rural schools in Springfield, Highland and Canoe townships. She worked at Noecker's Jewelry with her husband for 25 years and an additional 12 years for her sister-in-law, Martha Casterton. Before she was married, Myrtle was a member of Highland Lutheran Church. After her marriage she joined First Lutheran Church in Decorah. She taught Sunday School for 21 1/2 years as principal of greater and intermediate classes. She also was a member of church circle, communion president on the board of trustees and church council for three years, including the first female president of First Lutheran congregation.

Myrtle held several offices in WELCA, including two years as president.

She was a member of VFW and a 38-year member of the American Legion Auxiliary. She held office or served on committees on the state level for ALA for 15 years and served 10 years as canteen manager at Girls State in Cedar Falls.

In addition, she served as a page at district, state and national legion conventions.

Myrtle's survivors include her husband, Melvin, one daughter, Connie and Randy Richter, Lime Springs; two sons, Arden and Tammy Noecker of Murchison, Texas, and Calvin and Karen Noecker of Redwood City, Calif.; two brothers, James and Shirley Casterton, Spring Grove, Minn., and Bernard and Martha Casterton, Decorah; and two sisters, June and Leonard Olson, Stillwater, Minn.; and Belva Fadness, Decorah.

She also is survived by two brothers-in-law, Orville Wermager, Decorah and Alvin Swenson, Mabel, Minn.

Other survivors are nine grandchildren and one great grandchild: Tiffany, Adrienne and Brian Tickell, Erin, and Deirdre Noecker and her son, Alex; Eric and Gretchen Noecker; and Nathaniel, Melanie and Mychelle Richter.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, Edna Swenson and Palma Wermager and two brothers, Lawrence Casterton and James William Casterton.

Transcribed by an IA GenWeb Volunteer from obituaries found in the Howard-Winneshiek Genealogy Society Library, Cresco, Iowa.