Lois M. Sweeney(1935-2020)

SWEENEY

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 12/27/2020 at 19:51:56

Lois M. Sweeney
December 22, 1935 - December 20,2020
Lois M. Sweeney, 85, of Farley, died peacefully on December 26, 2020, at UnityPoint Finley Hospital in Dubuque, Iowa suffering from a broken heart. She buried her husband, then 3 days later long term care regulations kept her family from daily in person visits. Visits every day from outside the window for 9 months took its toll on her. Along with missing facial expressions because of masks, eating 6 feet apart from others, daily conversations hard to hear through PPE and times of quarantine.

A visitation for Lois will be held from 4 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at Reiff Funeral Home in Farley, Iowa and Legion Auxiliary services will be held at 6:30 p.m. Social distancing guidelines will be in place, masks are required. Anyone unable to attend can send a memorial to: Reiff Funeral Home, ATTN: Lois Sweeney family, P.O. Box #99, Farley, Iowa 52046.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Farley, Iowa, with Rev. Michael Schueller presiding. Services will be live streamed on the St. Elizabeth Pastorate Facebook page. Burial will be held at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Farley, Iowa.

Lois was born December 22. 1935 in Delaware County, Iowa daughter of Louis and Frances (Tench) Chapman. She graduated from Buck Creek High School in rural Hopkinton, Iowa and attended Business College in Dubuque, Iowa. On June 28, 1955, she was united in marriage to James “Dick” Sweeney at St. Luke’s Catholic Church in Hopkinton, IA. They were married 64 years when Dick passed away on March 2, 2020. She was a great mom and homemaker and worked at Dubuque County Mutual Insurance.

Lois was involved in her community: She was a member of the St. Joseph’s Parish, Farley American Legion Auxiliary for over 50 years and served as the Treasurer for many years. She attended many Legion Auxiliary conventions and served as a Page. She was a Girl Scout Leader, a past member of the Farley Park Board, Election official, Blood Drive Volunteer, the Lois Club and helped at church activities. Lois was by her husband’s side helping out with the Farley Babe Ruth Tournaments Queen Pageant for 30 years. Holiday and family get-togethers were very special to Lois, and everyone will remember the creative gifts she came up with at Christmas with her sewing talent and the full meals that were always served. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren always looked for her home baked buns and cookies. Lois always had a smile and a hug for her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Reading many stories to them over the years and dancing at their weddings! She took great pride in watching the accomplishments of her family. She loved hosting many gatherings with family and friends, you could find Lois at the table playing a game of Euchre. Always having time for “one more game.” Lois and Dick took many trips to the Casino to play Bingo and worked together taking care of the garden and flowers.

Lois is survived by eight children, Sue Kraus, JR (Angie) Sweeney, Karen (Keith) Neyen all of Farley, Carol Coyle (Jeff White) of Cascade, Jane (Ron) Deutmeyer, Barb Sweeney, and Nancy (Brian) Schlueter all of Dyersville, Marge (Rick) Gansemer of Rickardsville; Grandchildren, Andy Konzen, Marty (Bobbie) Konzen, Tracey (Nick) Reicher, Chad Coyle, Kelly (Ben) Kramer, Kristi (Matt) Strief, Luke (Katie) Coyle, Jacque (Jake) Kelchen, Jeff (Carrie) Deutmeyer, Tim (Tanya) Deutmeyer, Anne (Aaron) Seehusen, Amy (Adam) Linden, Sarah (Ben) Bell, Katie and Ben Gansemer, Craig (Kim) Schlueter, Kristen (Fiancé Sam Searls) Schlueter, Riley, Ricky, and Nick Sweeney, Maggie and Olivia Neyen, Jackson, Isabelle, and Juliana Bennett; 36 great grandchildren with more arriving in 2021; and brothers and sisters-in-laws, Marlene Chapman of Hopkinton, IA, Phil Sweeney of Farley, Tom (JoAnn) Sweeney of Peosta, and Julie Hildebrand of Sun Prairie, WI, Jane Sweeney of Epworth, Charlie Hemmer of Dubuque; and many nieces and nephews.

She is also preceded in death by her parents; her Mother and Father-in-law, Leo and Mabel (McDermott) Sweeney; sons-in-law Jim Kraus and Pat Coyle; Granddaughter, Molly Gansemer; Great Grandchildren, Claire and Colten Konzen; a brother, Dorrance Chapman; and brothers and sisters-in-laws, Therese (John) Connolly, Mary Sweeney, Stephen Sweeney in infancy, Sister Rose Sweeney OSF, Lloyd Sweeney, Louise Conrad, Benny Sweeney, Ann Hemmer, Fritz (Mary) Sweeney, Paul Hildebrand and Sharon Sweeney.

The family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to her many caregivers at UnityPoint Finley Hospital for all the wonderful care given to Lois.