Esther M. Albers, 96, of Nashville, passed away  at 12:55 p.m. on Friday, July 28, 2017 in Nashville, IL.  Born September 24, 1920 in Covington, IL she was the daughter of August C. and Ida C. (Kraus) Schneider. She was preceded in death by her husband Edward O. Albers on February 3, 1980, her parents (in 1976) and three sisters including Lola Schneider, Beulah Borrenpohl, Marian S. Gebhardt; a great niece Michelle Borrenpohl; a great nephew Michael Jude Gebhardt; and a nephew-in-law Dennis Stack.  Survivors include a brother-in-law Mr. Alan J. Gebhardt  of Daytona Beach, FL; a nephew, Doane (Lynn) Borrenpohl of Okawville; and five nieces, Donna (Dennis) Hesker and Annette (Bill) Eade of Okawville, IL, Patty Stack of Mahomet, IL, Marybeth (Mark) Lovell of Indianapolis, IN and Judith (Sergio) Gebhardt-Mendez of the Washington D.C. area.  In addition she has great and great-great nieces and nephews, and a cousin.

She was baptized on October 17, 1920, confirmed March 25, 1934 at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Covington, IL, and also attended St. Luke’s Lutheran Parochial School.  On September 26, 1943 she was united in marriage to First Sergeant Edward O. Albers, also at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church.   

Esther graduated from Nashville High School in 1939 and later that year attended Brown’s Business College in Centralia, IL She also graduated from Egyptian Academy of Beauty in December 1946, and held an IL state license for nearly 45 years.  Before her marriage she was employed as a dental assistant to Fred W. Schroeder in Nashville, IL and later worked at Hollywood Candy Co. and Arrow Petroleum Refinery office, both in Centralia.  

A resident of the this area most of her life, she worked for three years in Mascoutah, IL where her husband was assigned, working at Scott Air Force in Post Headquarters.  After more than five years of military service and upon the discharge of her husband from the United States Air Force, they moved to Rockford, IL where she worked for 30 years at Amerock, moving back to Centralia in 1977 and relocating to Nashville in 1979.

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m.  on Monday, July 31, 2017 at St. John Lutheran Cemetery in New Minden with Rev. Aaron Kotila officiating.  There will be no visitation.  Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church in Nashville or St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery.  Styninger Funeral Home in Nashville is in charge of arrangements.

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