Alice Watje

Alice M. Watje, eldest daughter of Otto Sr. and Bertha Yohnke Watje died Monday, January 18, 2010, at the Reed House in Denison, Iowa, at the age of 103 . She was born June 29, 1906, in Washington Township, Crawford County, Iowa. She was a lifelong resident of the county.
Her elementary education was received in the rural schools of Washington Township. She attended high school in the Denison Community Schools, graduating in 1924 with a teaching certificate earned through the pursuance of the normal training course. She began her teaching career in September 1924 in the rural school where she had received most of her elementary education. In the fall of 1926 she entered college at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Teaching during the school months, attending college during the summer, and transferring to the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, she graduated in 1940 from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She had taught in the Arion, Dow City, Mondamin and Lake View schools. After receiving her degree she went to Sibley, Iowa, as a normal training critic for four years.
In June1945 she turned to private business and became a restaurant owner and operator for twelve years in Denison. She returned to teaching in 1957 in the Denison Community schools where she taught special studies in the junior high for a year and a half and then became the high school librarian until retiring in June 1971. In 2007 at the age of 100, she had the special honor of serving as Grand Martial for the All-School Reunion.
Her retirement years were filled with doing volunteer work for the American Cancer Society, Crawford County Senior Center, American Association of Retired Persons, Retired Teachers Association, Crawford County and Area XII Area on Aging, American Association of University Women, church work, community service and various other organizations.
Traveling was an interesting activity for Alice. She had been to Europe, Mexico, South Korea, Hong Kong, the Mediterranean area and to Alaska. Several of her retirement summers were spent in going to Elderhostels at Simpson College, Luther College, University of Missouri at St. Louis, Southern Utah College, Alaska Pacific University and University of North Dakota.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Ralph and Otto; and one sister, Belva. Survivors include one brother, Vernon; two sisters-in-law, Denice and Marian; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.