Alice Elizabeth Nehls

Alice Elizabeth Sauer, deceased July 7, 2012, was born on September 5, 1921 in Bowling Green, Ohio, where her father, Richard Sauer, worked for the university. Following a divorce, her mother Agnes Suhrbier lived in the Graytown area with her four children, and worked as a cook until she married Otto Kosanka and had four more children. Alice grew up on her stepfathers farm, attended various country schools including Maple Grove and Rocky Ridge, and graduated from Oak Harbor High School as salutatorian of the class of 1939. Because her mother was ill Alice was unable to take advantage of a college scholarship, but stayed at home to take care of the family until she married Lester Nehls in April of 1941 at the home of her grandparents in Elliston. Their daughter Jeanette was born in the summer of 1942. Lester was a marine mechanic who was drafted into the army and served overseas for three years until the end of the war. After his discharge he worked as a fieldman for the Great Lakes Sugar Beet Company and the couple bought a house in Elliston. Three more children were born: Roger 1947, Lyle 1950 and Carl 1955. Alice had not given up her dream of attending college, and in 1956 she enrolled in Bowling Green State University in the cadet teacher training program, commuting each day from Elliston. She began her school teaching career two years later, while continuing her college studies each summer. She earned her Bachelors Degree summa cum laude in 1967 and eventually a Masters Degree in education. Alice taught in several local elementary schools including Oak Harbor, Elmore, Woodville, and Carroll Township; her favorite class was the fifth grade. Alice, Lester and Carl moved to the house on Portage Street in Oak Harbor in 1970. Alice was a busy mother, gardener, homemaker and for more than 30 years a Sunday school teacher at Trinity United Church of Christ in Elliston. After her retirement, gardening continued to be a favorite activity. She enjoyed her membership in the Happy Hobby Garden Club and won many prizes for her specimens and arrangements. She was a volunteer for the Riverview Nursing Home Auxiliary where she decorated tables and planted flowerbeds. She enjoyed camping and travelling with Lester and they covered all 50 states, culminating in their Alaska cruise just a few years before Lesters death in 2005. They also travelled around the world to visit their children: Jeanette in Holland, Lyle in Denmark and Belgium and Carl in Paris and Hong Kong. Alice is mourned by her brothers Richard Sauer, Robert Kosanka and Leland Kosanka, and her sister Mary Kosanka Orman; by her children Jeanette Siem Broekhuis, Roger Rosalie Hall 2012, Lyle Landa Schmitt and Carl Gail Deno; eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her sisters Grace William Luebke and Shirley Olen Nehls and by her brother William Kosanka. Alice lived the last year of her life at Genoa Retirement Village where she missed her garden and her independence. Her last days were spent at Admirals Pointe Nursing Facility in hospice care. We are sad to see her go but rejoice in the knowledge of her long, full and loving life. Friends may call at Robinson-Walker Funeral Home, 165 East Water Street, Oak Harbor, OH on Tuesday, July 10, 2012 from 2pm to 8pm. Funeral service will be at 11:00 am at Trinity United Church of Christ, 17955 West 3rd Street, Elliston, OH 43432 on Wednesday, July 11, 2012. Interment will be in Elliston Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trinity United Church of Christ at the address above. Sympathies may be left at http://www.walkerfuneralhomes.com.