Viola Albers

Viola Albers (nee Bertke), proud member of the Coldwater community, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on April 2, 2024. She was born on March 4, 1934 in Minster to the late Aloys & Clara Belle (Gudorf) Bertke. On September 1, 1956, in Minster, she married Robert Albers.

She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Robert, her children David (Lisa) Midland, MI, Karen (Chuck)
Wenning Coldwater, Beth (Dave) Sheeley Indianapolis, Maria (Tom) Schwieterman, Cincinnati and Brian,
Portland, IN. Grandchildren Jennifer Albers Smith, Valerie Albers, Aundrea Albers Graver, Alison
Wenning Fleming, Andrew Wenning, Hallie Wenning DiAntonio, Robert, William and Katherine Schwieterman,
Megan, Benjamin and Grace Sheeley and 8 great grandchildren, Bennett, Wesley, Harrison, Owen,
Phillipa, Hugh, Audrey, Caroline and one on the way. She is also survived by brother-in-law, Mark Wenning, and sister-in-law, Mary Ann Schmitmeyer.

Vi enjoyed a very happy childhood in Minster, Ohio with her two older siblings, Velma and Norman. Vi valued her monthly luncheons with her childhood friends even until recent years.

Vi lived a life as an active member of the Coldwater community. She enjoyed her time on the golf course, playing bridge, traveling and bowling. She loved to plan, host, and entertain parties for her family and friends. Vi was a skilled seamstress and spent much time in her sewing room creating clothing for her children. She supported local and national philanthropic causes as a lifelong member of the Phi Beta Psi Sorority, St. Ann’s Altar Sodality and the Catholic Ladies of Columbia. Vi enjoyed donating her time at the Coldwater Community Hospital as a volunteer and for The Ruth Lyons’ Christmas Fund.

Above all, Viola valued her family and her faith. Her five children, their spouses and many grandchildren were blessed with countless homemade meals, lively holiday parties, and well attended celebrations of First Communions, Confirmations, and weddings.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Norman Bertke, sister Velma (Bertke) Wenning, in-laws, Thelma Bertke, Kathleen Bertke, Joan Wenning, Cletus (Irene) Albers and Urban (Violet) Albers, Rosemary (Norman) Menker, Jeanette (Robert) Weaver and Roger Schmitmeyer.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 am, Saturday, April 6, 2024 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Coldwater, Ohio. Burial will follow in St. Elizabeth Cemetery, Coldwater. Friends may call from 4:00 to 7:00pm Friday, April 5, and from 9:00 to 9:30am Saturday at the Hogenkamp Funeral Home in Coldwater.  In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Coldwater Emergency Medical Services of Coldwater, or Smile Train, PO Box 96231, Washington, DC, 20090-6321.  Smile Train provides free surgical services benefitting children born with cleft lip and palate.