Walter Orlet Jr., 81
Walter H. Orlet Jr., 81, of Highland died on Friday, March 25, 2016 at his home.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 31 and from 8 to 9:30 a.m. on Friday, April 1 at Spengel-Boulanger Funeral Home in Highland. A memorial Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 1 at St. Paul Catholic Church in Highland, with Monsignor David L. Peters, pastor emeritus, officiating. Burial will be in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Highland.
He was born on Sept. 24, 1934 in Highland to Walter and Lucilda (Koch) Orlet. On May 1, 1962, he married Mary J. Trame. She survives in Highland.
Mr. Orlet grew up in Highland and graduated from St. Paul Catholic School in 1951. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He worked for Basler Electric for one year. He worked in the plant for Alton Box Company for 10 years before moving into the office to do cost estimates; he left the company, then Jefferson Smurfit, in 1984. He became a computer operator for 1st National Bank in Highland in 1985; the bank became Central Bank and later, Mercantile Bank. He retired in 1999.
He enjoyed following professional sports (especially baseball), gardening and coaching Little League baseball for his sons.
He was a member of St. Paul Catholic Church in Highland and Knights of Columbus Council 1580 in Highland, working bingo at KC Hall for eight years. He was also a former member of United Paperworkers International Union Local 1912.
Other survivors include sons, James L. (Janeen) Orlet of St. Charles, Mo., and Michael W. (wife Dr. Jennifer Fisher) Orlet of Jenkintown, Pa.; daughters, Patricia A. “Patty” (Michael) Simon of Edwardsville and Kristi L. (Kevin) Dickens of Edwardsville; grandchildren, Melissa A. Simon of Edwardsville, Sara E. Orlet of St. Charles, Mo., Ben J. Orlet of St. Charles, Mo., Theo R. Orlet and Ian R. Orlet (twins), both of Jenkintown, Pa., and Ivy E. Dickens of Edwardsville; and a brother-in-law, Bernie Hilmes of Carlyle.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Carol Hilmes, who died on Feb. 8, 2015.
Memorials may be made to St. Paul School Educational Foundation.
This story was originally published March 28, 2016 at 8:02 AM with the headline "Walter Orlet Jr., 81."