Sophie Olivia Kreke- Althoff, 92, passed away at 12:50 a.m., Saturday, August 6, 2011 at her home in Effingham.

Funeral services celebrating Sophie's life will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, August 9, 2011 at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Effingham with Rev. Msgr. Leo Enlow officiating. Burial will be in St. Anthony Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., Monday, August 8, 2011 at Bauer Funeral Home in Effingham with a 4:15 p.m. C.C.W. rosary and a 6:30 p.m. parish prayer service. In loving memory of Sophie, memorials may be made to St. Anthony Schools.

Sophie was born on May 29, 1919 in the Green Creek community of rural Effingham County, the daughter of Henry and Catherine (Dust) Nuxoll. She married Louis A. Kreke on February 19, 1969. He passed away on December 10, 1993. She married Norbert W. "Bud" Althoff of June 6, 2000 and he survivies.

Sophie graduated from St. Anthony High School in 1937. She worked for a time at the Effingham State Bank and then at the First National Bank of Effingham until she retired as a vice president of the bank. She was a past member of the Effingham Business and Professional Women's Association, the St. Anthony Hospital Auxiliary, was a current member of the St. Anthony Altar Society and a lifelong member of St. Anthony Parish. She enjoyed many years of involvement with area bowling leagues, loved to travel and had many close friendships including her regular meetings with a group of water aerobics friends known as the "Tadpoles". She will be greatly missed by all those who knew her.

Sophie is survived by her husband; niece, Mary Kay (Dennis) Gatchel and their daughter Cara of Decatur; nephews, Tom (Janis) Cohorst and their daughters Beth, Katie and Sara of Cary, NC; Tim Cohorst of Montrose; Bob (Sally) Cohorst and their sons Tony and Andy of Effingham; niece-in-law, Patricia (Kreke) Jobe and her children Maryann, Mike, Roberta, and Dave of Belleville; Step-children, Ron (Becky) Althoff, Steve (Barbara), Joan (Mark) Thies, Peter (Lee), Carla (Phil) Koerner all of Effingham and Ann (Jody) Althoff-Mayer of St. Louis. Also many great-nieces, great-nephews, step-grandchildren and great step grandchildren survive.

Sophie was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Agnes Cohorst; brother-in-law, Norbert Cohorst; husband, Louis A. Kreke and nephew, Robert Jobe.