Frank John Nolte

Frank J. Nolte

February 25, 1929 - November 10, 2017

We celebrate the long and full life of Frank John Nolte, 88 of Albuquerque, NM. Frank was born February 25, 1929 and grew up in the Bronx, NY. He died peacefully November 10, 2017 surrounded by his loving family. Frank was a man of integrity and warmth; he was formidably smart, creative, even-tempered and diplomatic. He valued his family deeply.

He was proud to be a veteran. As a young man, he served in the US Army 11th Airborne Division Parachute Maintenance Company during the occupation of Japan, 1946-1948. He was recalled to active duty from college to serve as a paratrooper in the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team, Company K in Korea, 1950-1951, where he participated in the combat jump at Munsan-ni. He returned to complete his degree from the State University of New York- Champlain College.

Frank met his wife Gloria Perretti in the roller rink, when Gloria purposely tripped him hoping for a chance to talk. It worked, and they married in 1951. Together they raised three active and boisterous sons and a perfect daughter in New Jersey. Their home was full of love, laughter, good food and lots of loud games of ping pong.

He embraced the Harmon Killebrew philosophy of yard maintenance. “I’m not raising grass; I’m raising kids.” Consequently, his yard was a mess. He was a devoted and patient father and grandfather following the interests of children rather than trying to shape them into his image. He set very few boundaries but those that he set were inviolable: firearm, archery, sharp tool and automotive safety. Everything else was open.

While Frank had a career in sales with several companies, he was best known for his athleticism, love of learning and curiosity. In his younger years, Frank was a gymnast and competitive diver. He later regularly awed his children by walking up and down the house stairs in a handstand. As an adult he learned to fly an airplane and a hang glider. He was a member of Toastmasters and went on to win regional public speaking competitions. For many years Frank and Gloria enjoyed ballroom dancing. In his 70s and 80s, Frank got great joy serving as a VA Hospital and Sol Amor hospice volunteer.

Frank was a man of quirky passions. He would do all of his mathematical calculations on an abacus. Saturday mornings were reserved for searching for “what-is-its” in garage sales e.g., camel whips that double as daggers, a 1929 airplane propeller and antique opium scales. He loved to show these finds to family and friends and all of the items came with a great story.

Frank was a spell-binding story teller. His children and grandchildren loved listening to stories about his experiences in the army or his childhood. A favorite was about a childhood prank when he and a friend secretly planted an explosive device in his Uncle Charlie’s cigar.

Frank was a craftsman. He and his artistic wife worked together to make furniture and home décor. Frank built the family kitchen table, built in bookcase, window treatments and bed canopies based on Gloria's designs. They even reupholstered their first couch three times and then 50 years later won a new one in a competition seeking stories about owning the oldest couch. He loved gadgets and sometimes made his own. His most ingenious and effective invention was a truly better mousetrap named the "Quad-Whammy". The device consisted of a block of wood with four mousetraps affixed to the top. A wire coat hanger suspended a glob of peanut butter just above and out of reach of the hapless and hungry mouse. Frank kept score in his home office and regaled his adult children with the stories of his success.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 66 years, Gloria; children, Kurt Nolte and wife, Bronwyn Wilson, Gregg Nolte and wife, Patricia, Scott Nolte and wife, Jennifer, and Kim Nolte; and eight grandchildren, Brandon, Graham, Heather, Cailin, Averill, Luke, Adam and Nicolas Nolte. He was preceded in death by his parents, Marie and William Nolte; sister, Florence Nolte; and brothers, Bill Nolte and Robert Nolte.

The family is grateful to the staff of the Albuquerque Veterans Administration Hospital inpatient Hospice facility for their compassionate end-of-life care.

He will be deeply missed by his family and friends through whom his stories and legacy will live on.

A Memorial Service and Reception will be held at French- University on Friday, January 5, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at 3:00 p.m. at the Santa Fe National Cemetery.

Donations can be made to Catholic Charities of Central New Mexico at www.ccasfnm.org/waystogive.html or to City of Albuquerque Department of Senior Affairs, Attn: Karen Lopez, Fiscal Division Manager, 714 7th St. SW Albuquerque, NM 87102.