Olga M. Echele

Olga M. "Olgie" Echele, of Portage Des Sioux, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, October 14, 2025 at the age of 100. Beloved daughter of the late John and Anna (nee Poeling) Echele; cherished aunt of 4 generations; dear sister of the late Elmer Echele, the late Leo (Jeanette) Echele, the late Clemenece (Dionysia) Echele, the late Ruth (Robert) Westhues, the late Bernadine (Urban) Roderfeld, the late Gladys Diermann-Cordell, and the late Dorothy Echele. She is also preceded in death by her special friend, Robert Schaberg.

Olgie was a lifelong member of St. Frances Catholic Church in Portage and an active member of the St. Anne Women’s Sodality.

Olga lived in Portage des Sioux her entire life until moving to assisted living in St. Peters 2023. She started working at age 18 at her first job was at the shoe factory in St. Charles, she then worked at ACF and finally she landed a position at McDonnell Douglas Corp. She retired in 1987, after 28 years of service.

Although she thought she would be bored in retirement, she found plenty to occupy her days. She volunteered delivering Meals on Wheels and continued her passion as an avid quilter. She baby sat her great-niece. She was active at her beloved St. Francis parish. At 80, she returned to school and graduated with her GED. Afterwards, she began tutoring children thru the Oasis Program to learn to read. Another activity she enjoyed was riding her bike to the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rivers and watching the river. When she wasn’t busy with any of these activities, she could be found picking pecans from the enormous tree in her yard. She especially enjoyed spending quality time visiting with friends and family. Olga will be dearly missed.

In lieu of flowers, Olga requested donations be made to St. Francis Parish. Make checks payable to St. Charles Borromeo and write St. Francis Assisi in the memo line.