Lois Marie Smith of Wahoo, Nebraska (age 86) passed away suddenly on Thursday, April 14, 2016.  Lois was born on October 23, 1929, to John Henry and Emma Emilie Marie (Segebart) Bock at a farm home northwest of Westside, Iowa.  She was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Evangelical Church in Westside, Iowa.

Lois attended Westside Grade School and Westside High School.  She graduated from Carroll Public High School in Iowa.  Following high school graduation, she attended summer school and began teaching in a rural Iowa school in the fall of 1947.  She eventually received a 2-year teaching degree from Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa.  She received her BS degree in Education in 1966 and her Master’s degree in 1971, both from the University of Nebraska-Omaha.  She taught for 35 years, including rural Iowa schools, Omaha Public Schools, Yutan Public Schools, and Wahoo Public Schools.  Her legacy includes teaching hundreds of children to learn to read, including two of her sons who she taught in kindergarten.

She married John Roger Smith in 1957 at First Lutheran Church in Omaha, Nebraska.  They were blessed with three sons:  David John in 1959, Mark William in 1961, and James Roger in 1962.

Lois joined Wahoo Bethlehem Lutheran Church in 1958 where she was an active member and volunteer.  She belonged to the Women of the ELCA and Joy Circle.  She served as the church’s Financial Secretary for several years and was the director of the children’s reading program at the church.

Lois belonged to Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, a group for women educators, and in retirement belonged to the Wahoo Area Retired Teachers group.

She enjoyed cooking and baking for her family, raising flowers, traveling around the United States and in Germany, attending auctions and antiquing, photography, genealogy, working puzzles, cats and dogs, spoiling her two grandchildren and, of course, reading.  Lois will be remembered for her cheerfulness, her caretaking, her willingness to try new things, her pfefferkuche (German Christmas cookies) and for her devotion to her family members and her students.

Lois is survived by two sons, Mark William Smith and wife Amy Christensen of Albuquerque, NM, and James Roger Smith of rural Mead, NE.  Grandchildren Isabella and Zane Smith of Albuquerque, NM. Survivors also include two nieces: Beverly (Merill) Tornow of Norfolk, Nebraska, and Diana (Terry) Pollard of New Sharon, Iowa.  Six nephews: David (Kaci) Rother of Des Moines, Iowa, Alan Vybiral of rural Wahoo, Nebraska, and Allen, Douglas, Larry and Roger Bock.  Niece Julie (Dennis) Rother.  Numerous cousins, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Roger, and her son David, three sisters that died as infants; Stella, Marie, and Dorothy.  Three other sisters; Lillian (Melvin) Gertz, Lucille (Raymond) Rother and LaJune Bock.  Brother Leo Bock.  Nephew Dennis Rother.  Also sister-in-law and her husband Pauline and LeVern Vybiral.

Lois was loved very much by her family.  She will be missed by them as well as many others.