Obituaries

Lois Mary Klein

May 24, 1924 - September 30, 2022

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Obituary For Lois Mary Klein

Madison – Lois Mary Klein died peacefully on Friday, September 30th, 2022, at Agrace Hospice in Madison, Wisconsin. She was born in Madison on May 24th, 1924, the younger daughter of Helen and Dr. John Meng. She grew up on S. Carroll St. in downtown Madison, where she spent many happy hours in the public library across the street and developed a love of books and reading that lasted all her life. She and her friends entertained themselves playing hide-and-seek in the State Capitol building, racing up and down the marble stairs and around the rotunda.

Lois was attending Central High School when, at age sixteen, she met Joseph Klein on a blind date. They were married in 1943 after she finished her second year at the University of Wisconsin and Joseph completed his engineering degree there. They had six children and lived most of their married life in Madison.

Lois was active in the Madison Theater Guild, where she played the leading role in a variety of plays including “Much Ado About Nothing,” “Auntie Mame” and “Six Characters in Search of an Author.” She excelled at the game of bridge and enjoyed playing it well into her nineties. She loved cats, from stray tabbies to tigers, and she could grow almost anything. She continued to care for plants until the end of her life. Her extraordinary ability to connect with other people enabled her to continue making new friends all her life.

Lois was fascinated by maps and the cultures of people in other countries. She and Joseph traveled to Europe, the Far East, the Holy Land and South America among other places. They also enjoyed happy months sailing together on Lake Michigan over many summers. Joseph named several boats after her.

Through the loss of Joseph after fifty-seven years of marriage, through the deaths of three of her children, and through the health challenges of her last years, Lois’s strong faith sustained her, and she sustained all of us. Now she has no more mountains to climb. The burdens she lightened, the lessons she taught us, and her unfailing love will remain with us and strengthen us for the rest of our lives.

Lois is survived by her daughters Judith Nystrom (Daniel), Joanne Bachmann, and Kathryn Klein Eddy (Hugh); by her grandchildren Stephanie Gates (Kenton), Erika Sasser (Fuller), RA Bachmann, Joseph Bachmann, Christina Rye (William), Celia Eddy and Joseph Eddy; and by her great-grandchildren Lucy Sasser, Fuller Sasser Jr., Juliet Bachmann, Isabella Rye, Hudson Rye and Henry Rye.

Lois’s family is deeply grateful to the nurses and CNAs at Agrace Hospice for their kindness and open-heartedness during her long stay there, and for the reassuring care they gave her at the end of her life.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Lois on Friday, October 7th, at 11:00 AM at OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE CHURCH, located at 401 S. Owen Drive in Madison. Visitation will be at the church beginning one hour before the Mass. Burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Agrace Hospice Foundation at 5395 E. Cheryl Pkwy, Madison, WI, 53711. To view and sign this guestbook, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com.

Ryan Funeral Home & Cremation Service 2418 N Sherman Ave 608-249-8257

Services

7 Oct

Visitation

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church 401 S. Owen Dr Madison, WI 53711 Get Directions »
7 Oct

Mass of Christian Burial

11:00 AM

Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church 401 S. Owen Dr Madison, WI 53711 Get Directions »
by Obituary Assistant

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  • October 07, 2022

    In honor of Mary Lois Klein, the Gates Family has made a donation to Agrace Hospice Foundation

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