"The Quam's were our neighbors before my family moved to WI in 1959. I remember them with fond memories. My sympathy to Lois' girls and their families. Kathy (Helmke) Hinzman"
In loving memory of
Lois Maye Quam
May 26, 1928 - September 11, 2019
Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday at the Bethany Lutheran Church in Emmetsburg. Burial is in Evergreen Cemetery. The family will greet friends from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., Friday at the Joyce Funeral Home in Emmetsburg.
Lois Maye (Norland) Quam was born on May 26, 1928, on a farm in Kossuth County, the daughter of Melvin and Evelyn (Bergeson) Norland.
Lois attended Emmetsburg Community High School, graduating in 1946. She attended teacher training in Spencer, Iowa, and taught country school at Vernon #1 for three years. She often told of having to walk to the schoolhouse early in the morning to start the wood stove before the students arrived, and loved to relate the story of Norm "helping" by stoking the fire the night before a particularly cold night, only to arrive the following morning to find that all her students' crayons had melted in the heat.
Lois met her future husband, Norman Quam, when she tried to serve him a second piece of pie while serving hay balers (not a big surprise to those who have sat in her kitchen to share a dessert and "seconds"). She and Norm were united in marriage on June 12, 1949, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Depew. Norm and Lois farmed north of Emmetsburg and raised not only crops and livestock during their marriage, but also four headstrong and independent daughters.
Lois was active in her daughters' upbringing by serving as a 4-H leader for 10 years, teaching Sunday School at Bethany Lutheran Church, and acting as Girl Scout leader. She was an avid sewer -- sewing clothes for her daughters, as well as many a prom or pageant dress for others, and mastered the art of Norwegian cross-stitch while waiting for her daughters during piano lessons, band practices and confirmation classes.
Following Norm's death, Lois moved to town and worked in the Emmetsburg High School kitchen from 1986 to 1997. She loved interacting with the students as they went through the lunch line and cherished the friendships that she developed amongst the kitchen staff. A highlight was winning third prize in a national recipe contest in 1988 for her original creation, "Cherry Delight." Cooking and coffee were her mantra and everyone knew there would be a hot cup and a sweet treat if they stopped by for a visit at any time of day.
Fiercely proud of her Norwegian heritage, Lois always had Norwegian goodies on hand for holidays and the annual Scandinavian tea at church, where she wore a traditional Norwegian costume she had sewn. A highlight of her life was her trip to Norway to visit Quam relation and the family farm.
Lois served as circle leader at Bethany Lutheran Church during many of her 70 years of membership, but most notably sewed hundreds upon hundreds of tops for quilts made for Lutheran World Relief. (Does anyone need fabric?) Countless people received the blessings of her dedication to her hobby and calling.
Lois died Wednesday, September 11, 2019, at Palo Alto Count Hospital in Emmetsburg at the age of 91. She was preceded in death by her husband, Norman; her parents; her sister, Mary Lou Smith; and her brother, Larry.
Those left to cherish her memory include her four daughters: Evelyn (Rob) Dalton of Danville, California; Norene Quam of Wilsonville, Oregon; Diane (Clark) Pitchford of Silverdale, Washington; and Dori Quam of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; her two grandchildren, Matthew (Kimberly) Pitchford of Champaign, Illinois, and Kaitlin Pitchford of Seattle, Washington; and, last but not least, three grand-cats, Mikko, Chloe, and Dolce. She also leaves behind many caring and loving relatives, neighbors and friends who have been a tremendous blessing in so many ways.
Tributes
"Sorry for the loss of your mom. My dad was Donald Norland. My grandfather was Oscar Norland. I have great memories of Melvin an Evelyn. When Melvin and Olaf were farming we walked beans and shelled corn for them. Evelyn helped teach my mom her bread recipes. Wayne Norland. ( wnorland@netins.net. )"
"Heartfelt condolences on the loss of your mother. She will be greatly missed by so many people. Denise Haack"
"Norene, Your Mom was a always good to me. She had a kind smile. My deepest sympathy. Doug Gowans "
"Lois was a wonderful lady. She was the best when it came to 4-H leaders. She is one of the reasons that I can sew like I can today. God bless all of you! Your mom was the best. With sincere sympathy. Rose Mary Stillman Campney"
"Humanity lost one of their finest members with Lois's passing. She was a generous, ecumenical person who shared her many talents with an open and generous spirit that left the world a better place. What an example to emulate; our deepest sympathy to her family. Dick and Anne Marie "
"Lois was like a third mom to us. Whenever we came home for the holidays or summer vacation, she welcomed us with open arms and amazing food. We cherish the memories of those days around her kitchen table. We will miss her so very much. Our deepest sympathies to her family. Dave & LeAnn Kunz"
"Lois was like our third mother. Whenever we came home for holidays or summer vacations, we were always welcomed with open arms and amazing food. We loved those times we shared around her kitchen table over the years. We will miss her so very much. Our deepest sympathies to her family. Dave & LeAnn Kunz"
"Lois was like our third mother. Whenever we came home for holidays or summer vacations, we were always welcomed with open arms and amazing food. We loved those times we shared around her kitchen table over the years. We will miss her so very much. Our deepest sympathies to her family. Dave & LeAnn Kunz"
"My sympathy to Lois's family. She will be missed. "
"What a lovely picture of a woman with a generous heart. I recall Larry proudly showing me the window treatments she had sewn for the first House of Hope in lower Mankato near college. Just right colors and professional construction. She took great pride in any job being well done and was determined not to let anything get her down for very long in my experience."
"What a lovely picture of a woman with a generous heart. I recall Larry proudly showing me the window treatments she had sewn for the first House of Hope in lower Mankato near college. Just right colors and professional construction. She took great pride in any job being well done."
"Keep your memories close to your heart. With sympathy from all of us. Mary and the staff at Home Instead"
"We will miss you Lois. I have many fond memories of you when we visited you in Iowa. You have a special in my heart. Your cousin, Mary "
"We will miss you Lois! We have many fond memories of you when we visited you in Iowa and when you visited us in California . Memories of you will be in our hearts.."
"Lois sewed the little girl bridesmaids dresses for Larry and my wedding. She was an artist. We were so grateful for the beauty her work brought to our wedding, back in 1963. She was the best sister-in-law!"
"We will all miss you Lois! Especially Nina. Your were always upbeat and had a rambunctious attitude toward life. I guarantee your memories of family experiences will be a center for conversation and joy for many years to come. Your cousin Alan."