Alma Koller
Edwardsville | Save
Alma Atha Koller passed peacefully from this life on October 28, 2026, at her home with family by her side. As her body weakened, she left this life calmly, like the lady she has always been, with grace and beauty. She has finally met her Lord and Savior in person, the One she talked about to everyone. Our Matriarch will be greatly missed.
Alma was born on October 11, 1926, to Samuel William Skief and Sylvia Alma Keele in Gideon MO, in her mother’s sister’s home. She lived and grew up in Hendrickson MO, on the wooded land that held what she called ‘the crooked tree’. She also lived in Wolf Hollow in a log cabin by Hendrickson.
As a child of The Great Depression, Alma was the eldest of 9 siblings. Losing her mother when Alma was 6 years old made her learn responsibility at a young age, helping to care for her younger siblings. Her father remarried where she was blessed with more siblings. She loved and helped care for all of them. At age 11 she gave her life to God, feeling called to be a minister/Bible teacher - just like her father. She started teaching Bible to young children. She went to Hendrickson Grade School then middle school in Poplar Bluff. She continued her education at Riverview Gardens School in St Louis after her family moved there. She ranked in the upper fourth of her class. At 16 years old she went to Hadley Technical High School to learn a trade. She also worked part time at a mannequin factory. Her family of 10 lived on Blair Street in a two-room upstairs vacated store where the First General Baptist Church was started. Later they moved and her church home became New Harmony Baptist Church where she married Marion Mitchell. Alma and her husband moved many times as he pastored churches, then later had their children Paul and Myra. She earned her cosmetology license in Flint Michigan in 1947. She also received cosmetology licenses in the state of MO in 1958, working at Tessie May’s Beauty Shop in Poplar Bluff MO - then in 1961 received her Registered Beauty Culturist license in IL working at Ann’s Beauty Shop in Edwardsville. Later she worked at the Edwardsville National Bank in the Accounting Department, yet continued her cosmetology skills. She joined the Southern IL University International Hospitality program, helping international students to adjust to American culture. She loved her international students and loved being their American Mother. She had them in her home often, also attending their college activities. She was truly a ‘mother to all people’.
Becoming a single parent, she sacrificed endlessly without hesitation. She gave her time and her whole heart to her children, siblings, nieces and nephews and friends. She truly lived her life with a faith so steady it felt like a shelter. She carried the weight of the world and turned her sacrifice into an act of love, and hardship into a lesson of resilience. She leaned on her Heavenly Father. She kept her daily devotion notes and noted often “I praise God for His bountiful blessings”.
In 1974, she met Jack Koller from Granite City who she married in 1975. He built her a home and they resided in Edwardsville. They traveled after retirement and enjoyed their grandchildren. She loved doting over him and being his helpmate. Her devotion to him was obvious to others.
Alma loved teaching the Bible to adults and children and continued to teach for over 85 years. She visited many nursing home residents reading the scriptures, singing, and just loving them. She had a beautiful high tenor voice, singing in church trios and choirs. She played piano in her octave style. She loved hearing her father play piano and loved her family gathering to sing around the piano. She loved knitting and crocheting and created beautiful doilies and afghans. She knew the edible wild weeds that could be picked from the ground and she cooked them into greens for dinner. With the help of her niece, Kim, she won Blue Ribbon at the 2013 IL State Fair for her ‘Spring Wild Greens’ recipe. She was also known for her country cooking, her black walnut cake and her zucchini bread.
She loved her church families and was faithful in attendance even at the age of 99. She was excited to celebrate her 100th birthday, spending time with many family members and friends.
Those who remain to cherish her memory and rejoice in her Heavenly home include her son, Paul Mitchell of Wood River; daughter Myra (Jack) Hughey of Alton; step daughter Jackie (Tom) Murray of Carmel IN; beloved grandchildren Sat Inder S Khalsa, Tera (David) Wiseman, Scott (Cynthia Daisy) Gaines, Hope (Drew) Mader, Jamie Hansen, David Gaines, Douglas (Jenny) Hughey, Lisa (Jon) Monroe, thirteen beloved great grandchildren, and many beloved nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Samuel and Sylvia Skief, and Rosa Skief; her husband Jack Koller; her siblings Alberta, Lois, Lydia Ora, Dorcas, William, Robert, Dorothy, and Samuel Jr.
She was loved by all twelve of her caregivers. Our deepest appreciation to the Unity Hospice staff. ‘Good Samaritans’ in her life were neighbors Corinne Mewes, Earl Dean Seals, and Sue Skief.
Her life is a testimony of her love for others, wanting everyone to know Jesus. Visitation will be Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at 9:00am with a memorial service starting at 10:30am at the Edwardsville General Baptist Church, 627 Brinkman Ave., Edwardsville IL Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery in Edwardsville.
Because of her love and concern for children to have a forever family, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Restore Network. She also prayed for and helped those in need so donations can also be made to the Community Hope Center clothing and food pantry.
Saksa–Mateer Funeral Home in Edwardsville is in charge of arrangements.
Pitchford Funeral Home
