Antone Edwin "Tony" Hotle

Dr. Antone Edwin "Tony" Hotle, age 95, passed away on Tuesday, November 15, 2011. He was born on a farm near Keota, Iowa, in Washington County, on November 9, 1916, the second child of Jacob E. "Ed" Hotle and Mary Dorothy "Mae" Meyer Hotle. Tony attended Seventy-Six Center one room grade school. He graduated from Washington Iowa High School and Jr. College in 1936. In 1938 he graduated from Elmhurst College, Elmhurst, Illinois. While at Washington and Elmhurst he played football and developed a lifelong love of the game. In 1942 he earned an MA in Elementary School Administration from Northwestern University. After graduating from Elmhurst, Tony continued a relationship with the school. He served on committees and the Board of Trustees. He was an adjunct professor in education. In 1965 he received an Elmhurst College Alumni Merit Award and in 1977 an honorary Doctor of Humanities. In 1938 he began his education career in Elmhurst. He served as a junior high school math and physical education teacher, guidance counselor and elementary school principal. In 1949, because of the failing health of his mother and father, he moved his young family to the family farm near Keota. He and his brother, Arthur "Bill", operated the farm and opened a dairy store in Keota. While in Iowa, he served as president of the Keota Board of Education during the school district reorganization and the construction of a new elementary school. In 1962 the farm operation was disbanded and Tony returned to Elmhurst as principal of Eldridge School and retired in 1976 from his principalship at Hawthorne School. In 1978 Tony and Katharine moved to a 30 acre farm near Fulton, Missouri and became active in the community. He served several terms as the president of the Board of Directors for Kingdom Projects Sheltered Workshop of Callaway County. He helped organize the first recycling center in Central Missouri and also the Callaway County Special Services board. In 1993 he and Katharine were honored by having the Adult Enrichment Center and Special Services Building named "The Hotle Building". Tony was a member of the Fulton Host Lions Club, was president for two terms, and was honored as a Melvin Jones Fellow. Tony and Katharine also received the J.H. Atkinson Award for Outstanding Community Service presented by the Kingdom of Callaway Chamber of Commerce. Tony was a faithful and active member of the United Church of Christ, and had a life-long commitment to serving others. He loved fishing, hunting, conversation, telling stories, and mowing his large lawn. He was a master woodworker and master gardener. He most enjoyed family gatherings, fish fries, homemade ice cream, chocolate, and especially large family Fourth of July reunions. In 2005 he and Katherine moved to Cape Albeon retirement complex in Valley Park, Missouri. Antone is survived by two sons: Dennis (Ruth) and David (Jeanne); four grand-children: Thad (Ruth), Timothy (Robin), Dana (Chip), and Jerret (Laura), five great-grandchildren; and his brother, Arthur (Joellen). He was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Katharine Roberta Klick Hotle; his sister, Cora Mae Hotle Roth; his brother-in-law, Frank Roth; and one great-granddaughter. A memorial service will be held at the Cape Albeon Chapel, 3380 Lake Bend Dr., Valley Park, MO 63088, on Saturday, December 10, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. His body has been donated to Washington University School of Medicine. Memorials may be made to Antone and Katharine Hotle Scholarship Fund at Elmhurst College, 190 Prospect Ave., Elmhurst, IL 60126 or to Fulton United Church of Christ, Fulton, MO 65251.