SHERMAN, Lois M. 1910-2000

SHERMAN, BRASCH

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 5/21/2014 at 23:12:57

Lois M. Sherman, age 89, resident of the Western Home in Cedar Falls, died November 3, 2000 after a life of service to her country and community.

Born on the Sherman Homestead in Barclay Township, Black Hawk County on November 25, 1910. She graduated from Jesup Consolidated School in 1928 and from Iowa State Teacher's College with a major in English in 1930. She then became a registered nurse in 1934 upon graduation from the University of Iowa.

Lois' first job was as a private duty nurse, then a general duty nurse at People's Hospital in Independence before accepting the position of night supervisor at the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City.

In August 1942, Lois joined the Army Nurses Corps. She spent the next 3 1/2 years at Fort Leonard Wood, MO where she received special administrative training that led to a promotion to lieutenant. She then was appointed Assistant Chief Nurse in 1943 and Principal Chief Nurse in 1944, being discharged in 1946 having attained the rank of captain.

After working at the College Health Service in Cedar Falls for a few months, Lois was recruited to be a Superintendent of Sartori Memorial Hospital in Cedar Falls. For the next 20 years she was Director of Nursing, floor nurse, obstetrical nurse, operating room nurse, personnel agent, director of hospital relations, dietitian, and anything else the hospital needed. In 1966, Lois stepped down to position as Director of Nursing in 1973. For her last year at Sartori, Lois was chiefly in charge of purchasing, retiring on March 8, 1974. During her tenure at Sartori, Lois witnessed two building programs that expanded the hospital from 35 to 105 beds, carrying the major responsibility for the 1955, $1,545,000 addition. She also added the Department of Physical Therapy, guided hospital services during polio outbreaks, saw the advent of a polio vaccine, and observed the inception of Medicare.

Lois said that her biggest enjoyment was "Just working with people and knowing we were really giving them good care." In the process she contributed to the high standards at Sartori and endeared herself to her patients, many who would later stop her on the street to thank her for her kindness.

Lois leadership and commitment to Sartori was recognized on August 21, 1986 with the dedication of the Lois A. Sherman Board Room.

In 1975, Lois was appointed to the Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administration by Governor Ray. She was also a board member of the Iowa Hospital Association, Secretary of the American Lung Association of Iowa, a founding member of the Sartori Hospital Auxiliary and chair of the Auxiliary Education Fund and the Home Health Advisory Committees.

Lois was also a member of The Business and Professional Women's Club, Eastern Star, past Worthy High Priestess of Bethany White Shrine.

Lois is survived by cousins, LaVera Sherman of Jesup, Audrey Sherman of Edina, MN, Ruth and Neil Brasch of Plano, TX, Larry, Nyle, and Ron Brasch, and special friends, Ken and Leandra Baughman of Cedar Falls.

Services will occur at 2:00 p.m. Monday, November 6, 2000 at the Cedar Falls Western Home Chapel, with interment prior that morning in the Cedar Crest Cemetery in Jesup.

Friends may call from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Richardson Funeral Home. Memorials may be directed to Sartori Memorial Hospital or the Western Home.

[Source: Richardson Funeral Service]