Donna Nolte, age 73, of Omro, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 30, 2010, at her home with her son by her side. Donna was born November 23, 1937, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the daughter of Hector and Irene (Fuller) Fraser. She retired as a bookkeeper from Winnebago County Mental Health. Donna loved nature, and would often take trips just to explore the country roads. She enjoyed feeding and watching the birds, planting flowers, dogs, and is best known for her lapidary skills. While working as a volunteer at Evergreen Retirement Community, she helped start a Lapidary Shop. She also enjoyed working with children, teaching them about stones, polishing them and making them into jewelry.

Donna was loved and will be missed by her beloved son, Nelson Nolte of Oshkosh, her sister; brother; nieces, nephews and many dear friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Eugene Nolte, and infant daughter, Dawn.

She was laid to rest at Lake View Memorial Park, 2786 Algoma Blvd., Oshkosh.

John Schaefer, a dear friend of Donna said "When I last spoke to her, she told me she was “shown” where she would soon be going, a very beautiful place and that she was very much at peace, anxious to get there.  I’m sure she left with a smile on her face to some very welcoming arms."

She had a beautiful malachite urn and I kept hearing her say "Hey everyone.. look at my malachite box.. 'Isn't it cool'.. That sounds so much like what Donna would have said.  She will be missed.

If there is anyone else who would like to add their comments to this page, please feel free to contact oesc-webmaster@hotmail.com to have them posted.

God Bless You Donna, you will be missed.

Nolte Agate by Kevin Ponzio:

In the year 2007, Jim Paddock gave Donna Nolte a call to do some field collecting in central Wisconsin.  They made their way to a small quarry in Green Lake, Wisconsin, that Jim had been granted permission to enter.  As they stepped out of the vehicle, they immediately started to find drusey Quartz with Hematite inclusions.  The red Quartz druse sparkles and glitters, in the sun, so pieces can be seen from long distances.  The Quartz druse was everywhere they looked.  Jim found a sample of the Agate made up of numerous oblong concretions.  Each concretion, within the specimen, had different colored agate fillings.  About the time Jim found his specimen, Donna had discovered a piece of  Chert with concentric banded Chalcedony.  Could this be an Agate?  Donna knew an Agate when she saw one and this was definitely an Agate!  Finding an Agate that wasn’t brought to the area by a glacier was phenomenal.  She immediately knew how important this discovery was.  Jim and Donna continued to collect specimens until it was time to leave. 

Donna was eager to show everyone her new find.  She began showing a couple specimens to people at a local rock show.  The specimens had some of the red Hematite/Quartz druse on it.  The druse made it difficult to see the Agate bands clearly.  Donna was met by rejection and nay sayers.  One was quoted as saying “Oh that is found all over the state”.  

Although disappointed by the reception, Donna didn’t give up.  For the next few years she continued to visit the quarry, finding better specimens each time.      

In the spring of 2010, I received a call from Jim Paddock to do some field collecting.  We made several stops and found something interesting at each place we visited.  In the afternoon, we pulled into a small quarry located in Green Lake Co., Wisconsin.  At first, all I was seeing was the sparkling red Hematite/Quartz druse.  After collecting a handful of the druse, I began to notice some of the other things lying about.  Just then, I looked down and found a geode.  It was no ordinary geode.  It had pink, orange and white alternating bands of Agate around the clear Quartz center.  Wow, and Agate from matrix and not from glacial debris!  In the words of Donna Nolte; “Cool Beans!”  I furiously collected a variety of specimens to study before it was time to leave.  I thanked Jim for the fun day collecting and drove home. 

          At home I eagerly cleaned the specimens that I had found.  As with all finds, I needed to label the new specimens.  It was a no brainer as I recalled Donna was the first person to show everyone this wonderful new discovery.  Nolte Agate was born!  It was the perfect fit for someone who has given so much of herself to the hobby.  Nolte Agate can finally take its place in Agate history.      

http://www.huntforgems.com/kids_day_07.html

http://mcrocks.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=5033718

http://mcrocks.com/ftr06-2/NolteOctober2006.html

http://www.huntforgems.com/trip-reports/wi_rock_hunting_6-07.html

http://www.uwfox.uwc.edu/whatsnew/weisnolteaward_2010.html