Lois Ruth Geiger-Campagna

Lois Ruth Geiger-Campagna, age 71, of Henderson, Nevada, passed away peacefully of a stroke on Friday, January 29, 2021, at Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Lois attended Mount Calvary Lutheran Grade School, Milwaukee Lutheran High School and received a B.A.E. cum laude in 1972 from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. During her junior year she studied abroad at the University of Ghana, West Africa: this proved to be an experience that would change her life forever.

Lois was a skilled artist who displayed her talent in all mediums, especially pastel, clay and even found items. She taught art at Xavier High School in Appleton, Wisconsin for several years before getting married and opening a ceramics store in West Allis, Wisconsin with her husband, Michael Campagna. They had two daughters, Angela and Cristina. Later deciding to focus on developing her own personal body of art, she drew from the influence of not only ancient Greek pottery, but also from the vibrant patterns, colors and pulse of daily life in Ghana. Her work has often been compared to that of the abstract expressionists, full of vivid emotions and aggressive imagery. She served as the Secretary on the Board of Directors for Wisconsin Painters and Sculptors from 1986 - 1989 and was well known in the Milwaukee art scene. She participated in shows throughout Wisconsin, most significantly, her independent show “Talisman” at Walker’s Point Center for the Arts in 1990 which included site specific installations and pastel drawings. Her ceramics and pastel works remain part of permanent public and private collections throughout Wisconsin.

Seeking a closer relationship with God, later in life Lois was drawn back to Ghana. Her projects there were plentiful, including working with women potters and entrepreneurs, collaborating with Heifer International, creating educational scholarships for young women and working with various church organizations. She became an official missionary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana (ELCG). On her last few trips she also volunteered at the Catholic Orthopedic Training Center (OTC) where she worked to rehabilitate physically challenged children. Truly, Lois, found the most joy in helping others. She valued intimate, personal contact, and the Training Center brought her in touch with people who needed her on a daily basis. To Lois, helping others was connecting with God.

Lois’ friends repeatedly say what a wonderful and giving person she was and how much she valued the advice and opinions of others. She loved her two daughters and two grandchildren with all of her heart and made every effort to maintain good relationships with everyone she knew. Throughout her life, Lois remained a dedicated and enthusiastic artist and often said that being in Ghana was “living her art”. In dying then, Lois will always be remembered for her generous and creative gifts from God that she shared in whatever way she could.

Lois is survived by her two daughters: Angela Clark and Cristina Campagna, both of Las Vegas Nevada; two grandchildren: Lauren and Tyler; brother, Jim Geiger of Sacramento, California; and sister, Linda McNulty of Waukesha, Wisconsin.

A memorial service for Lois will be held on Saturday, February 27, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 59 Lynn Ln, Henderson, Nevada 89015. Lois will be buried in the family plot in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Orthopedic Training Center (OTC):: Ghana. Link is below.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmboulderhighway.com for the Geiger-Campagna family.