Obituary

Lois Jean Whittemore, 89, passed away peacefully on November 23, 2020. Due to Covid restrictions, a virtual service and reception will be held on December 12th, 2020 at 2pm. A burial service is planned for Saturday June 12th, 2021 at Grove Lake cemetery, with the hopes that warmer weather and the taming of the pandemic will allow us all to meet in person.

Lois was born the daughter of Henry J. Kliewer and Marie Goosen on October 27, 1931 in Mountain Lake, Minnesota. Marie passed away on July 16, 1934 in a tragic house fire, and Hank married Emma Kliewer on January 17, 1935. Lois graduated from Alexandria High School in 1949. The 15 miles that separates Alexandria, MN and Glenwood, MN wasn't nearly far enough to keep Lois from meeting her future husband John (aka Chuck) Whittemore. They would dance the night away at the Lakeside Ballroom in Glenwood. During a leave from the Air Force, Chuck came back to marry Lois in Alexandria on July 5, 1953.

In August of that year Lois and Chuck moved to Columbus Ohio, where they welcomed the birth of their son David. Along their journey's path, Lois and Chuck found themselves at the University of Minnesota where they met a group of lifelong friends, affectionately known as the Village Gang. Lois and Chuck moved frequently, as Chuck's military and post-military career took them to places across the country. While in Littleton, Colorado they welcomed the birth of their second son Charles. More moves were ahead of them, and they finally planted roots in Burnsville, MN to raise their boys. But, true to their nature, more moves were ahead of them as they went along their life's journey.

In addition to supporting Chuck in his various careers and endeavors (including farming), Lois worked as a secretary for a number of organizations. While the boys were growing up, she was a secretary at several churches, as well as the Minnesota Professional Golf Association. Prior to her retirement, she was the bookkeeper at the family-owned Butler Drug in Linden Hills, Minneapolis. Lois and Chuck retired back to Glenwood, where they spent many days playing with their grandchildren.

For those that were fortunate to know Lois, and especially those related to her, were blessed by her selfless nature. Lois gave so much of herself and her talents to others; many of the people reading this were the recipient of one of her knitted afghan blankets. Lois was fond of saying "you can't pay back a favor; you can only pass it along". As a person devout in her faith, she lived her life serving others and "passing it along".

Lois is survived by her son Charles (Lynda) Whittemore of Eden Prairie; her sister, Joyce Soyster; daughter-in-law, Julie Whittemore of Donnelly; grandchildren: Erik (Melissa), Nate, Sam, Emma and Henry; and a large number of nieces and nephews including Beth Jones, who was a blessing to Lois in the last several years. Lois is preceded in death by her parents; her husband John (Chuck) Whittemore, her son David; her sister Florence.