She was born in St. Louis, Missouri, September 9th, 1927, and lived in Belleville, Illinois; Ft. Collins, Colorado; and Lyman, Nebraska.
After graduating from the University of Nebraska, with a major in Spanish, Lois went to Cuba in June 1949 for a two year stay to learn spoken Spanish and to work as an English secretary to the Cuban Director of Presbyterian Schools in Cuba.
In 1951 she was invited to stay, working in the schools, teaching English and music and doing administrative work at La Progresiva School. In 1951 she joined the Presbyterian Church and became a missionary (As Lois says, invited rather than sent.)
Lois compiled a hymnal of 50 hymns and songs growing out of their faith. Some hymns were traditional hymns and some were her own creations.
In 1961 all schools, both secular and religious were nationalized. The church lost an important agency of Christian Education. She was invited to be part of the Christian Education Team. She worked mainly in music but also preparing worship programs, ect.
From 1960-1969 neither the U.S. nor Cuba would allow her to come and return, so she elected to remain in Cuba. Communicating was difficult during that time and it was very hard for her U.S family.
During that period of time she helped with the literacy program. At one time she road horse back up into the hills to reach remote areas. One man that she taught to read and write said, “Before I learned to read and write I didn’t feel completely Cuban. In fact I did not feel completely human.”
Lois traveled the island and helped train choir directors. She brought along her guitar, (her portable piano as she called it.) Many churches had no piano. She learned how to play the guitar in Cuba and then became a teacher to many.
As “Director of Music of the Presbyterian Church of Cuba” she taught at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Matanzas, which was Ecumenical. She taught choir, guitar, piano, hymnology, liturgy, music in Christian Education and also English.
In 2000 Lois received the Peace Seekers Award from the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship. It was presented at the annual Peace breakfast on June 28. 2000 in Long Beach, California.
One sister, Eleanor, preceded her in death in 1932. Two brothers also preceded her in death; Bill in 2015 and Armin in 2016.
Lois is survived by her sister Ruth Clancy Dyck, two sisters-in- law Evelyn Kroehler and LaVerne Kroehler, many cousins, nieces and nephews, many friends and by her music.
In memory of Lois’s remarkable life, a memorial service will be held at Summit Ave. Presbyterian Church in Bremerton on Saturday, Nov 2nd at 2:00 PM, on All Saints weekend.
https://www.presbyterianmission.org/story/secretary-turned-lifelong-missionary-dies-at-91/
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18