Lou Ann Engler Shoemaker

Lou Ann was born in Granite City, Illinois on July 26, 1937. The oldest of four, Lou Ann grew up mainly in Papillion, Nebraska. She went to Jennie Edmundson to study nursing. Later transferring to the University of Nebraska - Lincoln, where she met her first husband, Lawrence (Larry) Engler. They married on August 16, 1958, in Omaha, Nebraska. There were four children born to this union. Together, they lived in numerous places, including Iowa Falls, Iowa, and Galesburg, Illinois, where she had many close friends.

After Larry's passing, she met Harley Shoemaker, marrying in 2005, living in Lincoln until her death.

In Galesburg, she worked as the regional editor for the Galesburg Register Mail. She spent many years there. During this time, she won awards with the Associated Press including the highly prestigious First Place for a WWII-related article. Aside from writing, which she also did for various magazines as a free-lance writer, she also had a love for glamour. She modeled and was a finalist in the Mrs. Minnesota contest. Other interests included being a Girl Scout leader, a docent for the Durham Museum in Omaha and having a love for theater.

In her retirement, she became a Blackjack dealer in Council Bluffs, later continuing in Vegas. She also loved antiquing and cheering on the Nebraska Cornhusker's football team.

More than anything, she loved her family.

Lou Ann is survived by her four children, Laurie (John) Somers, Gregory (Monica) Engler, Michele (Jeff) Warren and Melinda (Todd) Harshbarger. She had 8 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild and numerous nieces and nephews.

Lou Ann was preceded in death by husbands, Lawrence "Larry" E. Engler and Harley G. Shoemaker, her parents Glenn K and Mary (Embree) Jepsen, brother Glen T. Jepsen, grandparents Miron and Minerva Jane Embree and her beloved cat, Baby.

Visitation will be held from 5-7 PM, Monday, June 29, 2026, at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home, 6800 S 14th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska. Funeral services will be held at 10 AM on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, also at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home. There will be a luncheon immediately after the funeral service. Interment will be in Omaha at Westlawn-Hillcrest Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the MDS foundation at the link below.