Cletus Eugene Nolde

                                                  Cletus E. “Clete” Nolde

                                      December 9, 1943- November 21, 2024

Clete was born on December 9, 1943, in Kewanee, Illinois to Cletus R. and Juanita A. Nolde. Clete was raised on a farm seven miles east of Onarga, Illinois and he attended Onarga Grade School and Onarga High School. He graduated from high school in 1961. After graduation Clete attended Junior College in LaSalle, Illinois for one year.

Clete went into the Marine Corps on October 4, 1962. During his Marine Corps career from October 4, 1962 – October 3, 1972, Clete attended several schools including Manual Morse School in Pensacola, Fl., German Language School at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA., and an Army Special ID Techniques Operator School in Ft. Devens, MA. He was a Manual Morse Intercept Operator and a Linguist. Clete was also in Vietnam from July 1967 – August 1968. During his time in Vietnam, Clete was at Khe Sahn Combat Base from January 17, 1968 – March 21, 1968, during the 1968 Tet Offensive. One of the highlights of Clete’s ten years in the Marine Corps was being stationed at Company “G”, Marine Support Battalion in Sabana Seca, Puerto Rico. Several of the Marines Clete served with at Co. G in Puerto Rico and would become life-long friends, who he would see at Marine Corps Cryptologic Association Annual Reunions, and he would talk with by telephone and through emails until his death. He received an Honorable Discharge as a SSgt, E-6 from the USMC in October 1972.

Clete went to work during the summers of 1973 and 1974 for the Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) as a temporary employee. He became a permanent employee with the Division of Wildlife (DOW) in October 1974. Clete worked for CDOW from 1974-2007. During his DOW career, Clete worked at Fish Hatcheries, was a property manager on DOW State Wildlife Areas, worked as a Wildlife Law Enforcement Officer and as a Wildlife Manager in the Fish Hatchery Aquatic Section.

After retiring from the DOW in 2007, Clete lived in Lakewood, CO. Clete loved reading and was an avid reader his whole life. He also pursued and enjoyed the practice of T’ai Chi and he especially enjoyed the practice of Qigong. He also pursued his hobbies of birding, gardening, and reading and learning more about birds and other wildlife. Each May he looked forward to traveling to Westfield, NJ and going to The Great Swamp NWR for the annual spring bird migration. Clete also volunteered at Cat Care Society (CCS) for many years where he performed building maintenance and assisted at various CCS fundraisers.

Clete was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Janice Pritchard. He is survived by his brother Ronald L. Nolde, nieces and nephews, Megan Summers and family, Renae Carpenter and family, Korin Nolde and family, Ronnie Nolde, Jenny Nolde, and Codi Nolde, and other great nieces and nephews. As requested, Clete will be cremated and his remains interred at Fort Logan National Cemetery.