Lois Jean Peterson

Lois Jean Peterson was born on December 16, 1942, in Elgin, Nebraska in Antelope County to Frederick and Phyllis (Meis) Peterson. Lois is the second child of nine siblings born to that union.  She graduated from Columbus High School in 1960 and graduated from Wayne State College in 1964 where she obtained her elementary teaching degree.  She taught third grade in Bellevue, NE for a few years before moving to Kenosha, Wisconsin in 1970 where she taught third and fourth grade.   She obtained a master's degree in counseling and for the last few years of her career she served as a school guidance counselor. She loved children and her life work gave her many hours of nurturing young children.  Lois retired in 1996 and then moved back to Nebraska to be near family.

Lois's hobbies and interests were hiking, biking, camping, cross country skiing, reading, and travel.   Lois enjoyed years of being a member of the Kenosha Bike Club that included numerous short and long-distance bike treks.  Her travels took her around the world to include Europe, Scandinavia, China, Russia, Peru, Mexico, Ireland, England, Greece, Turkey, Israel, the Vatican City, and the Dominican Republic. She was a life-long learner who researched countries before she went there so that she understood the culture that she was about to visit.  She was a lover of and supporter of the arts in all its forms.  She loved live theater, visits to museums, live music of all kinds, and movies.  Visits to art shows usually found her showing her appreciation for artists by purchasing their art and enjoying it in her home.  

Guided by her faith in Christ, Lois actively lived the beatitudes.  This was seen in her work at the soup kitchen in downtown Kenosha and her work to help house the homeless at a shelter in that area.  This work was done through her church in cooperation with other area churches.  In both Kenosha and Omaha, she assisted with building numerous Habitat for Humanity homes.   Upon returning to Nebraska, she also helped during elections as a poll worker.  Lois cared about others and enjoyed being active in her community.  

Lois wore many hats during her lifetime including sister, aunt, friend, teacher and counselor.   Lois was a fun-loving, caring, encouraging, generous, curious, and warm person.  She loved her family and relished each family gathering.  She took great interest in the lives of her many nieces and nephews and did her part to nurture them by listening to them, playing with them, encouraging them, and providing for them in practical ways to help them not only grow but thrive.  Lois appreciated the little things in life and taught us to enjoy life and to be thankful for all that we have.