Lois A. Wise

Lois Alma Wise was born on August 9, 1918 at the family home northeast of Cawker City, Kansas in Erving Township Jewell County to Joe and Mary Caroline (Callie) Rhoads Wierenga.  She passed away on Tuesday, July 24, 2018, in Downs, KS at the Downs Care and Rehabilitation Center.  She was 99 years old.

Lois attended White Swan rural school, graduated from Athens Rural High School in 1936, and attended education courses at Kansas State University for several summers.  She loved teaching children and taught at rural schools in Jewell County.

On April 26,1941, Lois and Eugene McCormick Wise were united in marriage at the Baptist parsonage in Cawker City, and except for the time Gene (and Lois) spent in the the Army Airforce during WWII, they resided in Cawker City for the remainder of their lives.  To this happy union seven children were born.

For many years Lois and Gene were in business at the Wise Body Shop in Cawker City, and later contracted and served several Rural Mail Carrier routes.  Together they served as leaders with area 4-H members, worked their farmland and cared for livestock and cows, updated the farmhouse on their farm in Hunter, KS, and enjoyed the numerous activities of their family.  But at the center of their lives was always their faith in God, and their desire to serve our Heavenly Father.  They both served in many leadership roles at the First Baptist Church, and Lois continued teaching Sunday School classes and singing in the choir until she was in her nineties.

Lois taught a women's Menninger Bible Study in her home that many area women attended, but her passion was telling children of Jesus's love for them.  She taught children at Vacation Bible School (VBS) for many years, and when she was 90 plus years old she would still drive them to and from Glen Elder for VBS.  She also made sure that children had the means and the transportation to attend the Kansas Bible Camp near Hutchinson, KS.  Many of her grandchildren attended that camp with her.  But the connection she had with many area children was through the Good News Club that was held in her home.  She was active with this organization for over 40 years, and many children accepted Christ because of those meetings.  During many of those years she taught Good News with her dear friends, Debby Armknecht, Jean Richardson, and Linda Clover.  She touched many lives through those Good News meetings.

Lois cherished the time she spent with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.  She not only enjoyed caring for them, but also mentored and nurtured them.   Each grandchild has memories of special times spent with her, and conversations about common interests. Many other children and youth in the community had a special relationship with Lois, and benefitted from her caring ways.  In addition to spending time with her family, Lois enjoyed her time outdoors, either gardening or taking care of her flowers.  She was an avid knitter, and made afghans or blankets for all family members.

Preceding Lois in death were her husband, Gene; eldest son, Mac; and son-in-law, Jim Schneider.  Survivors are daughter-in-law, Ruth Wise Tanis (Jim) of Hays, KS; daughters Majean Schneider of Downs, Jayne VandeRiet (Randy) of Downs, Judy Cook (Tom) of Parkville, MO., and Callie Bader (Steve) of Cawker City; sons Dick (Sue) of Cawker City, and Joe (Barb) of Cawker City.  Also mourning her passing are her 17 grandchildren, 33 great grandchildren, 11 great great grandchildren, and her sisters-in-law, Barbara Wierenga of Downs and Ilo Oakley of Lawrence, KS.

Funeral services will be at 11 AM Friday, July 27 at the Cawker City Baptist Church. Visitation will be from 6-8 PM Thursday at the Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Church, Kansas Bible Camp, or Downs Care & Rehabilitation Center.