Charlotte M. Nolz

Charlotte M. Nolz, 89, of Miller, died Wednesday, March 3 at the Avera Hand County Memorial Hospital in Miller. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Monday, March 8 at the First United Methodist Church in Miller with Pastor Mary Ann Sheldon officiating. Visitation will be Sunday, March 7 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service. Burial will be at G.A.R. Cemetery. Rembold Funeral Home of St. Lawrence has been entrusted with Charlotte’s arrangements.

Charlotte Mae Manning was born May 1, 1920 in Hand County to Dewey and Idessa (Yerdon) Manning.  Charlotte grew up on a farm southeast of Miller and attended grade school in rural Hand County.   She and her family moved to Miller when she was 14 years old.  She graduated from Miller High School in 1937.

After high school, she worked at the Hand County Treasurer’s office and was eventually appointed Deputy County Treasurer by Clyde Collins.  While feeling that she was too young to assume such a responsibility, she reluctantly accepted and then proved to be very worthy of the position.  When it came time for the next election in 1944, she ran for the position of County Treasurer, won the election and began her first term in 1945.  She served as County Treasurer until 1948.

It was during these years that she accompanied her family on several memorable trips.    Destinations included Philadelphia & Washington DC, Colorado, Wisconsin, upper New York State & New England, the southeastern US, the great Northwest, and Canada.

After the completion of her terms as Treasurer, she stayed on to help the new incoming Treasurer.  It was at that time, while working in the Treasurer’s Office, that a handsome young man from northwest Hand County caught her eye.  She married Paul Nolz on November 21, 1951 at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Miller and she, too, became a resident of northwest Hand County.  They lived, for their entire married life, in Campbell Township. 

A son, Lee, was born in 1952, followed by daughter, Alison, in 1955, and a second daughter, Candy, in 1961.  Daughter, Candy, was born just after Charlotte had had major heart surgery in Rochester, MN.  When asked how she managed to bear a child after having such serious surgery, she quipped “well, the doctor told me I could do anything I wanted to do…”

In addition to being a devoted mother, Charlotte was a doting grandmother who loved and adored her 7 grandchildren.  She always had some sort of “grandma treat” at her house.  Favorites listed by her grandchildren include angle food birthday cakes, molasses cookies, chocolate pudding, pumpkin bread, custard, pistachio pudding, bear claws, “anything she had in her house when we got off the school bus”, and special stuffing recipe for Thanksgiving made especially for Teresa because she didn’t like some of the peculiar foods that the other Nolz’s ate.

Charlotte moved to the Courtyard Villa in August 2003 where she resided at the time of her death.  

Charlotte was a member of the United Methodist Church.  She enjoyed the beauty of the earth especially the beautiful sunsets outside her picture window on the farm.  She also enjoyed watching the cow and horses “across the road” and going for walks on summer evenings after the heat of the day had receded.  She admired the beauty of the Ree Hills in the distance.  She enjoyed getting together with her Class of ’37 classmates during several high school reunions over the years.  She was usually the winner of the “Smallest Waistline” award.

Survivors include son, Lee (Anna), of Miller; one daughter, Alison (Kim), of Yakima, WA; 6 grandchildren; and 3 great-grandchildren. Charlotte was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; brother Connie; daughter Candy; and grandson Greg.