LOIS E. LONNING

LOIS E. LONNING

     Lois Lonning, 96, of Neillsville, WI, died Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, at the Neillsville Retirement Community, where she has resided since June of this year.

     Lois Elljean Buffington was born June 8, 1928, in Titonka, IA, the oldest of 10 children, to Orval and Gertie (Sleper) Buffington. She graduated from Crystal Lake High School in Crystal Lake, IA, and then worked at a bank in her hometown. She was united in marriage to C. Gale Lonning March 31, 1948, in Crystal Lake, IA. They farmed and raised their family in Iowa until January 23, 1960, when they moved to their new farm in the Town of Seif, Clark County, WI. In Neillsville, Lois continued raising her family, and Gale did the farming. Gale died Sept. 16, 1996.

     Lois was a member of the United Church of Christ in Neillsville. She and Gale were longtime leaders of the Lucky Clovers 4-H Club, and Lois also belonged to Red Hat Society in the Greenwood/Loyal area. She was a great cook and baker. She enjoyed going to rummage sales, canning, making blankets for all of her family members and traveling throughout the world. 

     She is survived by her four children, Kent Lonning of Neillsville, WI, Connie Packard of Madison, WI, Neal Lonning of Thorp, WI, and Joy (Rich) Murphy of Grinnell, IA; eight grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; three stepgreat-grandchildren; and three sisters, Iola (Harvey) Schaefer of Forest City, IA, Sandy Brunsen of Garner, IA, and Sherry (Doug) Grimm of Forest City, IA.

     She was preceded in death by her husband, Gale; a daughter-in-law, Judy Lonning; her parents and mother- and father-in-law; five brothers; one sister and one infant sister.

     Funeral services for Lois will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, at the Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville. Pastor Julianna Ruegsegger of the United Church of Christ will officiate. Music will be provided by Cindy Wilke, organist, and Bunny Dux, soloist. Interment will be in the Neillsville City Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m., Wednesday and from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday at the Gesche Funeral Home.

     Online condolences may be made at www.geschefh.com.

     The Gesche Funeral Home is assisting Lois’s family with funeral arrangements.