Lois Fern Mahlman

Little Rock, IA           Lois Mahlman age 93 of Little Rock, IA died Wednesday, April 26, 2017 at the Osceola Community Hospital in Sibley, IA.        Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, May 4, 2017 at First Baptist Church of George, with Rev. Mike Hagan, officiating.        Burial will follow in the Pleasant View Cemetery at Little Rock, IA.        Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.        Lois Fern Mahlman was born on April 15, 1924 near Little Rock, IA, the daughter of William Frederick and Henderieka Hannah (Christians) Thiesse. She grew up in Little Rock and attended country school and later graduated from Little Rock High School in 1941. Lois then went on to Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, IA for two years. When she finished college, she taught country school for four years. On July 25, 1946, she was united in marriage to Henry John Mahlman by proxy in Stockton, KS and when she joined him in Furstenseldbruck, Germany they observed a religious ceremony on December 8, 1946. During their marriage, they lived many places while Henry served his country. After Henry was discharged from the U.S. Air Force they began farming together near Little Rock from 1965 to 1971, when they retired. When they retired from farming they spent many winters in Texas and Arizona. They also moved to Helena, MT for a few years to be near family. Lois was a member of the First Baptist Church near George, IA. She enjoyed sewing, knitting, crocheting and quilting. She was quite a seamstress making a lot of her children’s clothes. Lois was always on the go and especially loved to travel and often would let her husband Henry know, she was ready to head south for the winter.        Lois is survived by her four children: William “Doug” (Patricia) Mahlman of Sibley, IA, Michael (Judy) Mahlman of Everett, WA, Larry Mahlman of Hellena, MT and Kendall Mahlman of Spokan, WA; three grandsons: Michael J. Mahlman, Eric John Mahlman and Daniel Mahlman; three step-grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; sister, Leona “Jeanne” Van Briesen of Little Rock, IA; sister-in-law, Joanne Thiesse of Little Rock, IA; and many nieces, nephews and other extended family and friends.        She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Hannah Thiesse; husband, Henry Mahlman; and two brothers: Donald Henry (Frances) Thiesse and William Dale Thiesse.