Rodney B. Nolke

Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. followed by a prayer service on Sunday, November 1 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 903 Bernadette Dr. in Columbia. Funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, November 2, at St. Josephs Catholic Church, 301 W Williams St. in Salisbury.

Rod was born on October 13, 1961 in Boonville, MO to Donald and Margie Nolke. He married Debbie Henke on August 25, 1984.

Rod grew up in Roanoke, MO and went to school at St. Mary’s in Glasgow, MO, followed by Salisbury High School. Rod received his bachelor degree in education at Central Methodist College and his Master’s of Elementary Administration at the University of Missouri. He taught P.E. at St. Joseph’s Catholic school in Jefferson City for three years before spending the remainder of his career at West Elementary.

Rod’s greatest passions in life were teaching at West, coaching his daughters, Mizzou sports, and of course, Cardinals baseball. There wasn’t a kid on earth who did not love spending time around “Mr. Nolke” or “Uncle Rod.” He played many roles: son, brother, husband, father, uncle, teacher, coach, and friend, and he excelled at every one of them.

Rod is survived by his mother, Margie; wife, Debbie; daughters, Lauren and Korrin; and sibling Randy (Mary Sue), Donece Henke (Bob), Becky, Leigh Ginter (Doug), and Shauna Richeson and many in-laws, nieces, and nephews.