Elinor "Nomie" Budelier

Elinor Anne "Nomie" Budelier, 77, of Rock Island, passed away Tuesday August 2, 2016 at UPH-Trinity, Rock Island. 

 

A Memorial service will be held on Wednesday, August 17 at 11 am at Broadway Presbyterian Church, Rock Island, Illinois. Visitation will be from 9 am to service time at the church. Memorials may be left to Broadway Presbyterian Church, Rock Island or the German American Heritage Center, Davenport, Iowa. Private inurnment will be in Chippiannock Cemetery, Rock Island.

 

 Elinor was born on March 17, 1939 in Milan, IL, the daughter of Carl and Martha (Stapp) Budelier. She was a graduate of Rock Island High School and Middlebury College, Middlebury, Vermont with a degree in German and Russian languages and spent her junior year at the University of Munich. She earned a Masters at the University of Minnesota.  

 

Elinor retired from the Central Intelligence Agency in Washington DC as an analyst, senior analyst and liaison officer with over 30 years service. 

 

She enjoyed animals, was an avid gardener and an avid bird watcher, supporting the Cornell Lab for Ornithology. In 1991, Nomie and her mother donated 67 acres of hardwood forest and hill prairie to The Nature Conservancy. Augustana College then purchased the property with a donation from the Collinson family, owners of Collinson Stone Company, in Milan, Ill. The area is now named the Collinson Ecological Preserve and is now used by the College to promote the understanding and protection of Illinois native ecosystems through field-based education in the study of ecology.

 

 Elinor had mastered the German Language and Old German script and enjoyed translating documents. She was a charter/life member of the German American Heritage Center in Davenport.  

 

As an antiquarian, she had an avid interest in history and preservation of historic properties. She treasured her period collectibles including a collection of antique music boxes, & decorative fittings and displayed them in her home.

 

As an accomplished photographer, she photographed every house in the Mt. Pleasant Historic District in Washington DC where she resided for over 48 years.

 

 Ethnocultural studies of German, Jewish, and Native American peoples was a lifelong passion of hers. Nomie loved reading, collectible books and talking to people. There was never a quick conversation with her. It was never boring and always filled with laughter. She had a quick wit and a kind, gentle heart. She spent many hours teaching neighborhood children about nature [birds, flowers, bugs, etc].  

 

She was a weaver and an accomplished equestrienne and archer. Her deep interest in genealogy blended her interest in history and heritage. Nomie's favorite holiday was Christmas, followed by the Fourth of July and New Year's Eve.  

 

She loved classical music, played the piano, and gave her support to the National Symphony Orchestra, The Strathmore Center for the Performing Arts, the Folger Shakespeare Library, the Folger Consort, the Bach Consort, and the Quad City Symphony Orchestra. She was a Steward at the National Cathedral in Washington DC.  

 

Nomie was a founding member of the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. She was also a member and long time supporter of Broadway Presbyterian Church, Rock Island, Quad City Botanical Center, Rock Island County Historical Society, Rock Island County Genealogy Society, Washington DC Historical Society, Smithsonian Institute, Figge Art Museum, Quad City Computer Club, and Save the Children International. 

 

She was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved horse, Chief and her faithful dog Scipio. Survivors include many cousins and dear friends. They would like to send a special thank you to the staff of Silver Cross at Friendship Manor who cared for Nomie the last 4 years.

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