BORN

1918

DIED

2014

FUNERAL HOME

Washburn-McReavy Funeral Chapels - Davies Chapel (Uptown)

2301 Dupont Avenue S.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Lois Blumthal Obituary

Lois E. Blumthal Born: May 1, 1918; In Cleves, IA Died: December 31, 2013; In Richfield, MN Lois Ludemann Blumthal died peacefully on December 31, 2013, at home in Richfield, Minnesota, with family members at her side. Lois began her life of adventure and service to others in Cleves, Iowa, where she was the second child of Jans Ludemann and Befke Hinrichs Ludemann. She started school at the one-room schoolhouse north of Cleves, and graduated at age 16 from Ackley High School. Lois completed her degree in Foods and Nutrition at Iowa State College in 1939. Lois moved to Hawaii in 1941 and was working as a dietitian at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu when Pearl Harbor was attacked. In 1943, she was commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant in the Army. She served with the 187th General Hospital unit in England, where she met Jack Blumthal, an American infantry officer. At home after the war, she married Jack, in April of 1946, and moved with him to the Chicago area where they raised a family of five children in Elmhurst, Illinois. Lois returned to work in 1970 when her children were no longer coming home from school for lunch. After Jack died in 1980, Lois retired from her job as dietitian and manager of the York High School cafeteria and enjoyed volunteer work, including demonstrating spinning and weaving at historic Graue Mill. Lois moved to Ocean Ridge, Florida, in 1987, where she volunteered in her church resale shop, delivered Meals on Wheels, monitored sea turtle nests on the beach, wove rugs, travelled and attended elderhostels, continuing to feed her interests in people and the natural world. In 2005, Lois moved to Richfield, Minnesota, near her daughter Margie, where she had an apartment in a senior living community and continued her active life with walks in the local nature preserve. Support from a community of family, staff and caregivers allowed Lois to maintain her independence even as her mobility diminished. Lois is survived by her sister, Naomi Ludemann Fixter; children, Marjorie Blumthal Kostouros (John), John Blumthal (Connie), William Blumthal (Jean), Thomas Blumthal and Janet Blumthal Gassman; 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. The family suggests donations in Lois's memory to the National Parks Foundation or Disabled American Veterans. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, April 12, at the First Congregational Church in Elmhurst, Illinois. Visitation with the family from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. www.Washburn-McReavy.com Davies Chapel612-377-2203

Published by Suburban Life Publications on Apr. 4, 2014.
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Memorial Events
for Lois Blumthal

Apr

5

Visitation

10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

First Congregational Church

Elmhurst, IL

Apr

12

Memorial service

11:00 a.m.

First Congregational Church

Elmhurst, IL

Funeral services provided by:

Washburn-McReavy Funeral Chapels - Davies Chapel (Uptown)

2301 Dupont Avenue S., Minneapolis, MN 55405

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