Natalie Molter

Natalie Catherine (Joest) Molter, 88, of Lafayette, died peacefully on November 19, 2017 at St. Mary Healthcare Center. She was a loving parent and grandparent who, after raising her four sons, became involved in Lafayette civic and business affairs for several years. She also liked to decorate, garden and attend the theatre. Born on August 22, 1929, in Evansville, Indiana, to Louis Fremont and Irma Gable Joest, she graduated from Evansville Reitz Memorial High School in 1947. She went on to attend Purdue University and majored in home economics, completing most of her requirements for a bachelor’s degree. She was married for 64 years to Richard J. Molter, a long-time music schoolteacher at Sunnyside Jr. High School. They were married on June 13, 1953, in Evansville, Indiana; he died in Lafayette on July 7, 2017. Natalie is survived by one sister, Rita (Gil) Wanamuehler, Evansville. In addition, she is also survived by four sons: Keith (Bobbe) Molter, Lafayette; Jeff, New York City (Becky, fiancé); James (Betty), Trabuco Canyon, Calif.; and Kent (Jenny), Loganville, Ga.; four grandchildren: Mackenzie and Anderson Molter, Loganville, Ga.; Alexander Slava Molter, Seattle; and Deborah Pinedo, Lake Forest, Calif.; and one great granddaughter: Maya Pinedo, Lake Forest, Calif. She was preceded in death by her parents, as well as the following siblings: Robert Joest, Ronnie Joest and Betty (Joest) Barr. After raising her children (where she was a regular “den [Cub Scouts] and room mother” at Crouch elementary school), Natalie went back to work and got involved in civic affairs in Lafayette. She worked retail at: Loeb’s and Block’s department stores; Hallmark Hall of Cards; and House of Dreams by Judith. She also worked for the U.S. Census. She was on the Lafayette Board of Zoning Appeals, as well as the board of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Lafayette, where she later served as president. Natalie was a member of many other organizations, too, including: the League of Women Voters; the Business and Professional Women of Lafayette group; Lafayette Symphony Guild; the Art Museum of Lafayette; and the Tippecanoe County Historical Society. In later years, she said that of all her accomplishments, her proudest one was raising her four children. The Molter family would like to express its’ sincerest and most heartfelt appreciation to all the nurses, administrators, house and kitchen staff at St. Mary Healthcare Center, as well as the hospice nurses and staff of Serenity Hospice, for their care and compassion in helping to attend to Natalie (and Richard) during the past two years. A family celebration in honor of Natalie will be conducted in Lafayette at a later date. Memories and condolences may be left at www.hahngroeberfuneralhome.com

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