Altarose Voegele, age 97 of Batesville, passed away Monday November 9, 2020 at St. Andrew’s Health Campus, four days before her 98th birthday. She was born November 13, 1922 in Ripley County Indiana (Morris), the daughter of Josephine (Nee: Ferry) and Leonard Riehle. She married Lawrence “Buddy” Voegele, the boy next door and her childhood sweetheart, on May 28, 1946 at St. Anthony’s Church in Morris and he preceded her in death on February 22, 2010. Altarose was a homemaker and member of St. Louis Church where she volunteered in the school cafeteria for years.
She attended St. Anthony School, graduating from the eighth grade. She loved to read, especially celebrity autobiographies and said, “reading can take you anywhere in the world.” Prior to her marriage, Altarose worked as a nanny for two boys in Cincinnati. She was a devoted wife and mother, taking pride in raising her children and taking care of her home. She enjoyed sitting on the porch or under the shady redbud trees, visiting with family and friends and always made sure the American flag was proudly displayed in the front yard. She liked working in her flower beds and the garden and looked forward to fresh green beans and corn on the cob each season. Altarose also believed there was nothing better than fresh picked apples from the orchard that would be turned into applesauce and apple pies with her special nutmeg sauce.
Altarose loved cooking for her family and would often treat the kids to homemade cookies, a slice of pie, cinnamon rolls or a cup of hot cocoa on cold winter days after school. Her family will dearly miss her pot roast, fried potatoes, pineapple upside down cake, Thanksgiving dinners and the never empty cookie jar. Altarose also enjoyed letting someone else do the cooking, dining out with kids for lunch or dinner for special occasions. Cricket Ridge Restaurant was her favorite, where many birthdays, anniversaries and holidays were celebrated. She also like to play solitaire and watch her bird feeders for cardinals and hummingbirds.
Altarose and Buddy also loved to travel. They honeymooned in Niagara Falls and over years made visits to Europe, Mexico, Canada, all 50 states and a Golden Wedding anniversary cruise through the Panama Canal. However, she was just as content to visit a state park and stay in a cabin or go for a Sunday afternoon ride and a picnic. A kind and gentle soul who always wore a smile, Altarose felt blessed to have had such a good life.
She lovingly leaves behind daughters Carol (Bob) Baker of Sunman, Nancy (Darrell) Metz, Linda (Floyd) Riggs, Janet (Ted) Meer, all of Batesville; son Ron (Carolyn) Voegele of Martinsville, Indiana; grandchildren Scott Voegele, Tricia Dowler, Lori Jackson, Jason Baker, Holly Nighbert, Jonathan Nighbert; eleven great grandchildren and one step great grandchild. In addition to her husband and parents, she is also preceded in death by sisters Germaine Schorr, Sr. Mary Leonard Riehle O.S.F., Rita Riehle, Adele Riehle, Dolores Riehle and brother Ivan Riehle.
A private visitation and graveside service will be held with burial in St. Louis Cemetery. Rev. Santhosh Yohannan officiating. The family requests memorials to the St. Andrew’s Activity Fund. For online condolences go to www.weigelfh.com.