Henry (Hank) Nolte, age 81 of Hammond died peacefully Sunday January 16th 2011 at his residence following a lengthy illness. Hank was born on May 7, 1929 in Wadena, Minnesota; the son of Henry and Louise (Ploenzke) Nolte. Hank attended the Sebeka School District. While growing up, he worked on the farm alongside his father. Hank was drafted into the Armed Forces and proudly served in the United States Army during the Korean War. On February 10, 1951, he was united in marriage to Ruth Wells at the Methodist Church in Rochester. This union would be further blessed with two children; Susan and Larry. Hank would continue his farming as well as working for the Railroad for many years as a conductor and brakeman.  He focused his attention to farming after leaving the railroad and continued to operate the Nolte dairy farm till recent years. He belonged to the American Milk Producers Incorporated. Amongst the farm, he loved tending to his horses and mules. Being a touch stubborn himself, he enjoyed the spirit and self determination the mule possesses. Chores, whether doing his own farrier work or cleaning up after them, was all in a good days work. He belonged to the Horse Saddle Club in Pleasant Grove and the Minnesota Mule and Donkey Association. His greatest satisfaction came from harnessing up the mules with his grandchildren and traveling across greater Minnesota for the Camp Courage Wagon Train. Seeing a child with health problems beam up as they came down the road gave him the upmost reward! Hank also was a proud supporter of Oliver Tractors and was more than ready to sit down and play a game of cribbage or solitaire.

Hank will live on in his family; wife Ruth; daughter Susan Bale (Bob St. Germain) of Hammond; Larry (Jane) Nolte of Hammond; grandchildren Tristan Bale, Kyle (Fiancée Randi) Bale, Ross Nolte, Sara (Shawn) Enberg; great grandchildren Miley and Shelby Bale; siblings Orlen (Lois) Nolte of Stewartville, MN, Cecelia Schultz of Perham, MN, Ted (Ernestine) Nolte of Blue Grass, MN, Gloria Triebwasser of Monticello, MN, Ione (Curtis) Goldhammer of Mitchell, SD, as well as a host of nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, and brothers-in-law Edwin Schultz and Leroy Triebwasser.

A Celebration of Life for Hank Nolte will be on Thursday January 20th from 4 until 7PM at the O’Connell Family Funeral home of Baldwin. Interment will be at a later date in the Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Pleasant Grove, Minnesota.  Memorials preferred.