Lois Marie Coin

Lois leaves behind four children, nine grandchildren, a great-grandson, two sisters and two brothers. As the oldest of eight siblings (born 20 minutes before her identical twin, Louise), Lois helped raise her sisters and brothers, then her own children, then the children of sisters and friends, and then her own grandchildren: Her biggest role in life, for more than 70 of her nearly 84 years, was to teach those coming behind her how to navigate the world.

She cautioned her children to drive carefully and not to burn the candle at both ends. She taught them honesty, humor, hard work, thrift and compassion. She loved to quilt and sew and make craft projects with family, friends and her fellow congregants at Bethany Baptist Church. She wore purple sweaters with red hats, making close friends in the Red Hat Society. In her basement she maintained a stash of games, from Battling Tops to Monopoly, for the grandchildren who frequently filled her house.

For Lois, a devout patriot, Flag Day was a bona fide national holiday. She wore U.S. flags emblazoned on sweaters, T-shirts, slacks and hats. For America’s bicentennial in 1976, she enlisted her children to paint the stars and stripes on the front porch, the clapboards alternating red and white.

Grief visited her too often: Her husband of 36 years, Emmet, died in 1989; her oldest daughter, Carol, just seven years later; and three of her five sisters in the past decade. But Lois always chose life, spending time with the wide, big family that was always, always, the center of her world. She traveled to France and England; to Montana, Florida and California; to Nashville, New York and New Brunswick; nearly always in the company of someone she held dear.

She was loved and will be missed by her children and their spouses: Joann and David Brandt, of Clinton Township, Mich.; Glenn and Rosie Coin, of Clinton, N.Y.; Linda and Paul Scheidemantel, of Bloomfield Hills, Mich; and Gary and Holly Coin, of Nashville, Tenn.; and by her siblings and their spouses, Louise Bateman; Barbara and Harry Moskal; Phil and Arlene Schaefer; and Jim and Wanda Schaefer. Other family members were special to her, too, including her sister Judy’s two daughters, Elaine Hansemann and Carol Kinney; and her sister-in-law, Jeannette Brown.

However you knew Lois, in whatever way she touched you, please join us in remembering her long and full life. Bring memories to share.

In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to the Alzheimer's Association in Lois' honor.

Visitation Sunday, January 17, from 2-8 p.m. and a Funeral Service on Monday, January 18, at 10 a.m. at Kaul Funeral Home, 35201 Garfield, Clinton Twp.