Obituary: Agnes (Motelet) Nilles - Class of 1930

MADISON - Agnes M. Nilles, a talented and hardworking woman, died at the Don and Marilyn Anderson Center on April 6, 2005 at the age of 93. The middle of seven children, she was born on Jan. 27, 1912, to Paul and Ida Motelet in Avoca. After the untimely death of her father in 1928, the family moved to Madison where Agnes graduated from Central High School in 1930. She married Meinrad P. (Rod) Nilles on July 17, 1933. She was an accomplished cook, seamstress, quilter, hostess, gardener, and card player. She was a member of St. James Parish for over 70 years and was very active in a variety of parish activities until just recently. Over those many years, she shared her skills and talents by working at the fall festival, sewing baptismal gowns, making quilts, creating table decorations, banners, and posters for various functions, working at funeral dinners, singing in the funeral choir, and being available whenever needed. St. James was a wonderful center for her spiritual and social life. She was also a long time member of the National Order of Foresters and served as secretary for nearly 50 years. In addition, she had been a volunteer at St. Marys Hospital and delivered communion to the homebound. Until 2004, Agnes hosted the family Christmas Eve celebration every year. Her legacy was her love of babies, focusing on her grandchildren and doting on her great-grandchildren. Survivors include her son-in-law, Clarence Ready, Madison; a daughter, Dorothy Skofronick (James), Tallahassee, Fla.; and a son, Rodney (Carol), Middleton. Grandchildren include Annemarie Ready, Maribeth Wendorf, Marcia Ready, Patricia (Scott) Zuberbier, Gregory Skofronick, Gail (David) Jackson, Gary (Anna) Skofronick, Gretchen (Paul) Desch, Peter (Mary Beth) Nilles, Teresa (Robert) Nicholas, and Mark Nilles. Also surviving are great-grandchildren, Tyler Wendorf, Westin Waggoner, Amanda Zuberbier, Marina and Matthew Jackson, Christine and Dylan Skofronick, Jennifer and Steven Desch, Laura, David, Ian and Julia Nilles, and Alex and Finnegan Nicholas. She is further survived by her brother, Jerome (Betty) Motelet; a sister, Mildred Kassel; a sister-in-law, Ethel Motelet; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Rod, in 1981; a daughter, Audrey Ready, in 2004; her parents; three sisters; and one brother. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. JAMES CATHOLIC CHURCH, 1128 St. James Court, at 11 a.m., on Saturday, April 9, 2005, with Monsignor Thomas Baxter officiating. Friends may call on Saturday at church from 10 a.m. until time of mass. Burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery following the service. Friends may pay their respects at the church on Saturday from 10 a.m. until time of the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. James Church or HospiceCare, Inc. The family wishes to thank all of those who gave Agnes such loving care during the final months of her illness. She will be missed. Joyce-Ryan Funeral Home & Cremation Services 5701 Odana Road 608-274-1000

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on April 8, 2005