Viola Alberta Alstat

DeSoto - Viola Alberta (Hicks) Alstat passed away Friday evening, September 16, 2016 at Parkway Manor in Marion. She came into this world 95 years ago, in a small community, known at the time as Holbrook, northwest of Hurst on January 6, 1921. Her parents were Cora Belle (Gore) Hicks and William Riley Hicks. Ten days after her birth Viola lost her Mother and was raised by her eight siblings. At 2 ½, her father married Cassie Porter and Viola often shared that she was so happy to have a mother. As she grew older Viola was expected to work on the farm, just like her brothers and she could hold her own on any task given to her.



On October 12, 1940 she married her true love, Frederick L. (Fritz) Alstat. They enjoyed 63 years together. Viola was a partner as she and Fritz farmed together and raised three sons on their De Soto farm. She enjoyed singing in the church choir and later become a member of a local Quartet, singing at funerals, churches across Southern Illinois, and Easter sunrise service at Bald Knob Cross. Viola was a member of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in De Soto and the Jackson County Farm Bureau. In earlier years, Viola was also active in “Home Bureau”, a part of Farm Bureau and 4-H when her older sons were members. Viola was never at a loss for words and was a vivid storyteller. Whether at her retirement apartment at Liberty Village or as a resident at Parkway, Viola was a caregiver, attending to other’s needs until just recently. She aptly recalled names and information as requested and did so recently at the Hicks reunion in June this summer.



Viola is survived by her sons Bobbie Joe (Nancy) Alstat of Vandalia, Frederick R. (Jean) Alstat of De Soto; daughter-in-law Pamela Alstat of Marion; grandchildren Debbie Murphy, Jeff (Jacinta) Alstat, Jill (Mike) Robertson, Kimberly (Jeff) Schofield, Christine (Jim) Thilker, Anthony Alstat, Lucas (Rachel) Alstat, Valerie (Jason) Hubbard; great grandchildren, Josh (Emily) Alstat, Andrew Alstat, Brook (Nate) Schmidgall, Bridget (Evan) Buffington, Jack Robertson, Molly Robertson, Nicholas Hardcastle, Dusty Hardcastle, Jonah Schofield, Jocie Schofield, Courtney (Travis) Wininger, Ethan Cole, Trevor Alstat, Taryn Alstat, Henry Hubbard, Oberon Hubbard, Abigail Alstat, and Everett Alstat; great-great grandchildren, Afton and Paxton Wininger, Madelyn and Marlee Schmidgall, Olivia, Ella, and Nathan Buffington, and many nieces and nephews.



Viola was preceded in death by her husband Frederick L (Fritz) Alstat; oldest son James M. Alstat; grand-daughter Julie Kiger; great-grandson Zachary Hardcastle; and eight siblings, Arthur (Ollie) Hicks, Leo (Lucille) Hicks, Clarence (Annie) Hicks, Johnny (Mary) Hicks, Claude (Ruba) Hicks, Hallie (Jess) Cochran, Bertha (Homer) Barnett, Edna (Clarence) Shirley.



Many thanks to her Parkway Manor family in Marion and Hospice of Southern Illinois.



Funeral services for Viola will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 20, 2016 at Meredith Funeral Home in Carbondale with Pastor Melissa Waterman officiating. Burial will follow at Murdale Gardens of Memory in Murphysboro. Visitation will be from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home.



Memorials are the preferred form of remembrance and may be made to Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church or Hospice of Southern Illinois. Envelopes will be available and accepted at the funeral home.