Lois E. Simeral

Lois Elaine Simeral, 102, a longtime resident of Lakewood, passed away on July 7, 2021. She was born on August 10, 1918 in Hazelwood, Minnesota to parents Einar and Judith Erickson. Along with her older brother, Larry, she grew up in nearby Minneapolis. Attending the University of Minnesota, she held part-time jobs in the theater costume department on campus and a couple of summers in Yellowstone National Park. She graduated with a degree in Home Economics & Education in 1941.

Upon graduation, she taught in rural Minnesota before moving to California where she helped in the war effort at McClellan Airfield. Later, volunteering with the American Red Cross, she was stationed in the South Pacific on New Hebrides and New Caledonia. She kept busy assisting in running the service clubs and canteens. After the war, Lois worked as a counselor at a girl’s camp in Maine and in NYC at the Herald Tribune test kitchen. She then returned to school in 1952 and completed a Masters Degree at the University of Colorado in Counseling. Not shy of adventure, she then journeyed to Munich, Germany for a couple of years where she was a dorm counselor at the American School for Military Dependents. Lois then returned to Denver, teaching at Cole Jr. High at the urging of a friend. There she met and married William Simeral in 1954. They resided in east Denver for a number of years, before building a new home and moving to nearby Applewood Knolls in 1959. She has lived there ever since – up to her death last month.

Lois was a big supporter of the new Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church. She also kept busy at the Denver Art Museum for many years as a tour guide and in the gift shop. Her myriad passions included skiing, bridge, book clubs, rose gardens and especially CU football. She traveled extensively with friends and family about the world.

Lois was preceded in death by her husband William Simeral (Bill) in 1978 and her brother, Lawrence Erickson in 2000. She is survived by her children: Robert Simeral and his wife Deanna of Boulder and daughter – Joan Moore of Florida. A nephew, Dick Erickson, resides in Minneapolis. Grandchildren include Crickett Rippley (Brian), Sheila Wertz (Brian), Marg LeBlanc (Mike), and Kathy Schissler (Dave). Great Grandchildren include Kendall Rippley, Aubrey and Morgan Wertz, Alisa and Elizabeth LeBlanc, Nolan Potts, Gracie and Sam Schissler. Lois will be buried in Crown Hill Cemetery next to her husband William.

A memorial service will be held at Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church on Friday, August 20, 2021 at 1pm.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Lois’s name to Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church (11500 W. 20th Ave. Lakewood, CO 80215) or to the Denver Art Museum (100 W. 14th Pkwy, Denver, CO 80204).