Lois M. (Hager) Simmonds - 1919-2001

HAGER, BUETTELL, SIMMONDS, FRANSEN, SUMNER, TOBIN, YATES

Posted By: Connie Ellis (email)
Date: 11/18/2011 at 20:28:27

SOURCE: Waukon, Iowa WAUKON STANDARD, August 22, 2001
Contributor: Connie Ellis (Not related)

Funeral services for Lois Mabel Simmonds, age 82, of Waukon, Iowa were held Thursday, August 16 at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Waukon, Iowa with Rev. Larry Olson officiating. Burial was in the Oakland Cemetery in Waukon, Iowa. Martin Funeral Home assisted the family with the funeral arrangements. Casket bearers were Brian Simmonds, Brenda Simmonds, Kevin Simmonds, Kristie Sumner, Ray Sumner, Jim Fransen, and Josh Hager.

Lois Mabel, daughter of Paul and Flora (Buettell) Hager, was born January 31, 1919 on the Ludlow Township farm, rural Waukon, Iowa of her parents. She was baptized and confirmed in German at the Zalmona Presbyterian Church in rural Waukon, Iowa. Lois attended rural elementary schools and graduated from Waukon High School in 1936. She attended Waukon Junior College and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in vocational home economics in 1940 from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. On December 21, 1940 Lois and Maurice Simmonds were married in Richmond, Missouri. She taught school in Monticello, Iowa and New London, Iowa for a few years. They lived in several different areas of the country while Maurice was in the military. They returned to Allamakee County and farmed near Churchtown, Iowa. Lois was a teacher for 26 years in DeSoto, Wisconsin where she taught home economics, art, science, and German. Following Maurice's death in March 1979, Lois moved to Waukon.

Lois was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church in Waukon, Iowa where she served as an elder and Sunday School teacher. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Allamakee County Farm Bureau, Veterans Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, New Century Club, Coulee Region United Educators, NEA, and DeSoto Education Association. She helped with many area activities for the Iowa State Extension Service and was very active in the Republican party. She also taught sewing and quilting classes in Waukon. Lois was an accomplished seamstress and quilter, liked to garden and cook, and enjoyed having people in her home.

Lois Mabel Simmonds died Monday, August 13, 2001 at the Good Samaritan Center in Waukon, Iowa following a lengthy illness. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Maurice, and two brothers, Nathan Paul Hager and Robert Hager.

Lois is survived by her 2 sons, Clarke (Sheila) Simmonds of Lansing, Iowa and Glenn (Sharon) Simmonds of Davenport, Iowa; 1 daughter, M.Kay (Denny) Fransen of Washington, Illinois; 4 grandchildren, Brian (Brenda) Simmonds, Kevin Simmonds, Kristie (Ray) Sumner, and Jim Franzen; and 2 sisters, Alice Tobin of Adams, Wisconsin, and Esther Yates of Waukon, Iowa.