Lois Audrey Allen

Lois Audrey Allen, nee Brusius, age 83, of Oshkosh and Allenville, Wisconsin, born May
17, 1927, Oshkosh, at rest June 5, 2010.
Dearly beloved wife for 63 years of John, devoted, caring and always concerned
mother (job number one for Lois!) of Russell (Christine), of Winneconne;
Jeffrey (Patty), of Fremont, California; Julie (Robert Odle), of Elkton, Maryland;
Laura, of Madison, Wisconsin; and Richard (Jill Chapman), of Chicago, Illinois.
She was the proud and loving grandmother (a role Lois thoroughly enjoyed) to Ross
and the late Hesston, Kate, Elizabeth, and Jessamyn Allen, Allison and Olesia Odle,
Lydia and Henry Allen. Daughter of the late Clarence and Anna (nee Salzsieder)
Brusius; dear sister of the late Jean (Franz) Bloesel and the late Nile (Dorothy)
Brusius. She is survived by a brother-in-law and two sisters-in-law; Furman (Allene)
Allen of Columbus, Ohio; and Vida Allen, of Oshkosh; and many nieces and nephews.
Lois graduated from Oshkosh High School and briefly worked in 1944 for the U.S.
Treasury Department in Chicago. Like many of her peers of the day, it was at the
dance hall (Eagle's Club) where she met her husband to be; John thought she was the
most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
Baptized, confirmed, and married (November 22, 1946) at Emmanuel Evangelical
Lutheran Church in Oshkosh, Lois was later active as a Sunday School teacher and
congregant at the Allenville Community Baptist Church.
Early in the couple's marriage they resided in Waldo, Wisconsin, until moving back to
farm with John's brother, Peter, in Allenville. There, Lois might have been spotted
carrying a milk pail or chasing loose cows, but hardly on a regular basis as she had her
hands full with five children and keeping the farm's books. She tolerated baby pigs or
ducklings brought into the warm basement and an occasional cat to catch a mouse.
Family and community life occupied her time: 4-H Leader for the Mikesville 4-H Club,
Vinland Couples Club, Lamplighters Home Makers and square dancing for 25 years with
Fox City Squares.
In addition to spending time with family, Lois enjoyed sewing, attending musicals
and plays at local theatre companies and her 17 years as clerk at H.C. Prange's
department store (Oshkosh). Visiting her son, Russell's, greenhouses late in life was
a pleasure. An excellent cook, the aroma of home-made donuts or freshly baked
cookies filled the air on cold winter days. She kept a very tidy house and took on
home repair jobs with skill.
Upon retirement she and John traveled across much of the continental United States
and Hawaii, visiting family, friends and taking in a few Broadway productions along the way.
Her last years were difficult due to her affliction with dementia. In lieu of a
memorial, the family requests donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association
(http://www.alz.org/index.asp).
Cremation has taken place and a Memorial Service will be held Saturday, June 12, 2010, at 4:30 p.m. at Mueller Funeral Home, Winneconne. A Visitation for family and friends will be on Saturday at the funeral home from 3:00 p.m. until the time of the service. A reception for friends and family will be held at 6:00 p.m. Saturday at the Legion Hall, Winneconne. Inurnment in the Allenville Cemetery will be held on a future date.

Mueller Funeral Home
904 E. Main St. P.O. Box 250
Winneconne, WI 54986
(920) 582-4242
Please submit online condolences to
www.muellerfuneralhomeinc.com