Sgt. Nicholas S. Nolte

Death

Sgt. Nicholas S. Nolte, 25, Cherry Point, N.C., formerly of Falls City, Neb., died Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2004, at National Naval Medical Center at Bethesda, Md. He was born Sept. 16, 1979, the son of Bradley and Anita (Santo) Nolte. He was raised at Falls City, graduated from Falls City Sacred Heart High School in 1998 and was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church at Falls City. Following graduation, he entered the U.S. Marine Corps. He served in the First Marine Helicopter Squadron and provided security for President William J. Clinton and President George W. Bush. He married Melina Pepe on Feb. 27, 2001, at Quantico, Va. He attended Low Altitude Air Defense School at Ft. Bliss, Texas, and then moved to Cherry Point, N.C., where he was stationed at the Marine Air Corps Station. He was deployed to Iraq on June 9, 2004. On Nov. 9, while serving in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, Sgt. Nolte was providing security for a colonel, when the Humvee he and five others were traveling in drove over a roadside bomb. He sustained multiple injuries as a result of that enemy action, and was transferred to Germany, and then to National Naval Medical Center at Bethesda, Md., where he died as a result of his injuries. During his military career, he earned the Joint Service Achievement Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Meritorious MAST, Presidential Service Badge, Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, Rifle and Pistol Sharpshooter Badges and a Purple Heart.

Survivors: wife, Melina of Cherry Point, N.C.; daughter, Alanna of the home; his mother, Anita Nolte of Falls City; sister, Jessica Nolte of Omaha, Neb.; grandmothers, Kathryn Nolte of Maple Grove, Minn., Marie Santo of Falls City; great-grandmother, Iva Huston of Falls City. He was preceded in death by his father, Bradley Nolte.

Funeral Mass: 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 7, Prichard Auditorium, 17th and Barada streets, Falls City, Father Robert A. Roh officiating. Burial: Maple Cemetery, Salem, Neb. (park in the 1700 block of Barada St.) Military graveside honors will be conducted by Marine Honor Guard I - I of Omaha, assisted by Falls City Ceremonial Honor Guard. Parish Rosary: 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 6, Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church 18th and Fulton streets, Falls City. The body will lie in state at the church from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Monday. Visitation at Dorr & Clark Funeral Home 23rd and Harlan streets, Falls City, begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 4. Dorr & Clark Funeral Home, Falls City, in charge of arrangements.