Arlene Chyle

Tuesday, June 30, 2020 5:06 pm

Arlene Chyle, 92, of Cresco, passed away Friday, June 26, 2020, at Regional Health Services of Howard County in Cresco. Mass of Christian Burial is at 11 a.m., Thursday, July 2, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Protivin, with Fr. Nick Radloff officiating. Burial is in Holy Trinity Catholic Cemetery. Visitation was from 5 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, July 1, at Hindt-Hudek Funeral Homes Protivin. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, masks are recommended and social distancing will be practiced.

Arlene Eveline Sobolik was born April 20, 1928, in Howard County. She was the eldest daughter of Albert and Eveline (Kunt) Sobolik. She attended country school through the eighth grade, then attended Cresco High School, graduating in 1945.

Arlene began teaching in the fall of 1945, at the age of 17, on a war emergency certificate after completing the Normal Training Course at the Cresco High School and taking a state examination. She continued teaching in the rural schools for seven years and married Donald Chyle June 14, 1948, at the Holy Trinity Church in Protivin. To this union one son, Mark, was born. When Mark was 12 she went back to teaching. Arlene taught remedial reading at Holy Trinity under the Title I Program through Turkey Valley for three years. Then she began at Holy Trinity as a regular teacher. She taught there for a total of 31 years, mainly in the sixth grade. Arlene attended various colleges through correspondence and night classes throughout those years. She also taught CCD religion classes and subbed for three years after retiring in 1997. Arlene also served as lector for many years at Holy Trinity.

Next to her family, school children were her love. She was nominated for “Who’s Who Among American Teachers” three times. Besides teaching she worked on the family dairy farm alongside her husband and son. Her husband passed away March 7, 2002. Arlene continued helping on the dairy farm feeding calves until the age of 80. She enjoyed cooking for the young men that helped on the farm. Besides cooking she liked reading, doing crossword puzzles and watching TV.

Arlene is survived by her son Mark, a sister Evelyn Adamec, sister-in-law Evelyn Steffen, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Don, brother Arnold (Wilma) Sobolik, and brothers-in-law Clarence Steffen and Elmer Adamec.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to HOCA.