Lois M. Clauson
1932 – 2020
Lois Clauson, 87, of Omaha, died January 16, 2020. Celebration of life visitation will be Monday, January 20 at Roeder Mortuary on 108th Street in Omaha from 4-7pm. Visitation will be Tuesday, January 21 at Cataldo Schott Funeral Home in Forest City, IA at 11am, with burial to follow at Oakland Cemetery.
Lois was born during a snowstorm on March 17, 1932, in Marshalltown Iowa to Anton and Grace Terfehn (Lutterman). Lois and her younger brother Fred grew up on their parents’ farms near Wellsburg and later near Buck Grove, where she attended country school. Lois was a member of the 1949 Wellsburg High School Girls Basketball Championship team. Lois graduated from Central College in 1953 with a degree in chemistry. During college her jobs included candling eggs, detasseling corn, and as a pin setter at the Pella bowling alley.
After college she worked in the laboratory the Meadow Gold Dairy and Creamery, where she met her future husband Ken. Lois then worked in the hematology lab at Iowa Methodist Hospital and Sanitary Farms Dairy lab. In 1955 Lois moved back to Des Moines to marry Ken and worked at Drake University as a lab assistant for pharmacy students. Lois and Ken moved to Omaha in 1957, and later that year had a daughter, Andrea. Lois worked for the Douglas County Health Department until retirement as a Lab Supervisor after 39 years.
Lois served others throughout her life. She was an elder, deacon, clerk of session, and choir member at Mt. View Presbyterian Church. She was a 4-H leader for 15 years, served as President of the 4-H Council, President of the Douglas County Extension Board, President of the NE Association of County Extension Boards, member of the Douglas County Fair Board, and as a master gardener. Lois was ‘LC the Clown’ as a member of the Omaha Wild Clown-dum and Life in Christ Circus through which she performed in hospitals and churches. Life In Christ Circus gave her the opportunity to travel to Poland, Eastern Germany, and the Czech Republic. She also clowned during two dental group mission trips to Guatemala.
In 2008 Lois moved to Immanuel Village where she enjoyed social activities and singing in the choir. In 2009 Andrea moved back to Omaha and was a dedicated daughter who cared for Lois. Lois is survived by her daughter, Andrea King (Patrick Louden), and two granddaughters, Valerie King and Sandra King (Dennis Buckley). Lois is preceded in death by her husband, Ken, her parents, Grace and Anton, and her brother, Fred. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Life in Christ Circus and American Cancer Society.
Roeder Mortuary – 2727 N 108th Street, Omaha NE – (402) 496-9000
