Obituary of Lois Eileen Van Valin

Lois Eileen VAN VALIN, age 80, of Rome, Wisconsin, passed away on Sunday, August 28, 2011, at her home. Lois was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on September 16, 1930, the daughter of Max and Evelyn (Stark) von Dahlen. She spent much of her childhood living in northern Minnesota and Wisconsin. She graduated Valedictorian at Mukwonago High School where she wrote the lyrics for the school song (which is still sung today). Lois graduated from the Univeristy of Wisconsin-Madison in 1952, and married Jay P. Van Valin on August 9, 1952. She taught Home Economics at Watertown High School for 16 years (never missing a day). Lois enjoyed collecting antiques, creating quilts and stained glass art and was a voracious reader. Her passion was feeding and watching the birds and wildlife in the yard of an old farmstead, named by Lois and Jay �Bittersweet Farm�, which was her home of over 53 years. She was very fond of her bridge club members who have been meeting for over 50 years. Surviving are: her sons: Reed (Holly) Van Valin, Allen, TX, Tad (Peggy Strong) Van Valin, Helenville, WI and Peggy�s sons: Zach and Dylan Strong, Wade (Aniko Molnar) Van Valin, Mill Valley, CA and their daughters Renna and Kyla Bazlen, and Craig (Mary Ellen) Van Valin, Cambridge, WI and their son Samuel J. Van Valin, and her children: Nicole Wickus, and Karissa and Mitchell Neupert and Lois� brother: Max (Linda) von Dahlen, Elkhorn, WI. Jay preceded her in death on December 1, 2002. A memorial visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 7, 2011, from 4-7PM at the Nitardy Funeral Home Chapel, Fort Atkinson, WI. Private burial will be in the Hoffman Cemetery, Rome, Wisconsin. Lois� family would like to express their special thanks to everyone at the Fort Atkinson Memorial Hospital, who cared for her these last 10 years, especially those at the Oncology Center and everone who cared for her from Rainbow Hospice. Thank you all. In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to the Rainbow Hospice Care of Jefferson.