Wallace "Wally" Bartlett Floe, 94, passed away one day shy of his 95 ^th birthday on September 27, 2022, surrounded by his family at Ascension Living, St. Joseph Village in Freeport, IL.

Wally was born September 28, 1927, in Albert Lea, MN. The only child of Waldemar and Cora (nee Bartlett) Floe.

He grew up in the small town of Peterson, MN. where he attended grades 1-12 graduating in 1945 along with his six other classmates.  Lifelong friendships were forged prompting many visits back to Peterson over the years.

Wally enlisted in the Army in 1946 taking Basic Training at Fort Bliss in El Paso, TX.  He served as a Medic at Sam Houston Medical Center San Antonio, TX and then at Valley Forge Army Hospital Phoenixville, PA. where he felt great honor tending to the WWII soldiers who had seen active duty and suffered from what is now called PTSD.

Upon Honorable Discharge from the Army, Wally used the G.I. Bill to attend the Gale Institute Railroad School in Minneapolis, MN.    In 1949 he took a job in Freeport, IL as a Telegrapher/Clerk with the Illinois Central Railroad until he retired in 1984 after enjoying a fulfilling career and job benefit of train travel.

In 1951 Wally married Idell (nee Collati) Artman.  They were later separated by divorce.  From their marriage the first of Wally's five treasured daughters, Diana, was born.

Wally met Anne (nee Brody) Smith when frugality and $1.00 spaghetti night led him to the Red Cedar restaurant where she worked as a waitress.  The two were wed February 21, 1960.  Upon marrying Anne, Wally became the proud father of her three girls: Laurie, Holly, & Jill.   The family was completed when Terri was born.

Wally was a big sports fan and was known for wearing the sweatshirts of his favorite teams; the LA Lakers, Detroit Lions, Detroit Tigers, Chicago Cubs, the Minnesota Golden Gophers, and those of his grandchildren's teams.  He was a lifelong member of the YMCA and if anyone played, or thinks they may have played basketball with him, they would remember him for his left-handed hook shot.  He loved to bowl and was on a league for many years.

Wally coached a year of Little League, and he was involved in Kiwanis where he volunteered in coordinating Peanut Day as well as serving at Golden Meals.

Wally and Anne vacationed over 30 years on Sanibel Island, FL where they enjoyed boating, fishing, and the restful beauty the island provided.  They developed many close friendships over those years.

Wally's friends meant the world to him.  His family appreciates that he was included in breakfast gatherings and Kiwanis activities as long as was possible by fellow members driving him to and from the activities he so enjoyed.

Wally was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Anne, his daughter Laurie Bardell Bowar, great-great grandson Brixtin Hayes Offard, mother & stepfather Cora and Donald Lueth, father & stepmother Waldemar & Fran Floe, mother-in-law Norma Reed.

He is survived by daughters: Diana (Mike) Mowery of Grove City, OH., Holly (Josh) Compton of Freeport, IL., Jill (Tom) Williams of Stockton, IL., Terri (Mike) Clark of Polo, IL.;  grandchildren: Mikey Cole of Grove City, OH., Jason (Bonnie) Bardell of Freeport, IL., Justin (Shanelle) Bardell of Freeport, IL., Whitney (Nino Lombardo) Williams of Framingham, MA., Christine (Tanner) Williams-Mandel of Laguna Hills, CA., Harper Clark of Polo, IL., Brady Clark of Polo, IL.;  great-grandchildren: Madison Cole of Columbus, OH., Boston Cole of Pickering, OH., Kalah (Demetri Offard) Bardell of Freeport, IL., Cameron Bardell of Freeport, IL., Zoie Bardell of Freeport, IL., Zayden Bardell of Freeport, IL.

Services will be held Sunday October 9, 2022 at Walker Mortuary, in Freeport, IL.  Visitation will be from 1:00-2:30 followed by a funeral service beginning at 2:30.  Cremation rites have been afforded with internment taking place at a later date.  A memorial has been established.  Condolences may be shared at www.walkermortuary.com.