Lois Stahl

Sibley, Iowa

Lois Stahl age 87, of Sibley, IA died Tuesday, February 22, 2022, at Country View Manor in Sibley, IA.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 15, 2022, at the First Baptist Church in Sibley, IA with Pastor Steven Stahl officiating.  Private inurnment will take place at a later time.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 15^th until the time of service at First Baptist Church in Sibley.

Lois Mae Stahl was born to Bert Harvey and Etta Evelyn (Lyons) Baal on October 28,1934 in Adrian, MN.  Due to complications while giving birth, her young mother passed away just a few weeks later.  Lois was raised by her Grandmother Lucinda Baal on the Baal family farm East of Ellsworth, MN, and then later in the town of Ellsworth.  Growing up in Ellsworth, she was known as ‘Loukie’ around town or Lucille in school.  Although she was named Lois at birth, she didn’t use the name until after getting married.

As a high school student, ‘Loukie’ worked at the local café where she met a young railroad worker named Hurley Stahl. He had been coming in for lunch break while working in the area.  After dating only a few months, Hurley was approached by a traveling-salesmen who sold a variety of items, including wedding rings.  After graduating from Ellsworth High School in May, Lois said yes to this kind, gentle and handsome young man. They were married in June of 1952 at the presbyterian church of Ellsworth (The one her grandfather Baal helped establish).

In the early years of their marriage, they made their home in a boxcar.  The first few months, home was on a railroad siding (a side track) in Larchwood, IA, which allowed Hurley to continue his work for the Rock Island Railroad. The two newlyweds would laugh often about how they would be awakened at night; having to jump out of bed to empty water buckets because they were being moved from track to track. When the next stop took the young couple to dark areas of the railroad in Sioux Falls, Hurley became concerned for the safety of his new bride and decided a career change was in order.

They moved to his hometown of Ocheyedan, IA, where he worked on a hog farm and then spent forty years as a bulldozer operator for Osterman Construction.  Lois’ skill as a waitress and cook came in handy when she worked for Bauerly’s and Noble’s cafes.   She worked for Sather’s Cookie Co, in Round Lake, MN, but had some bigger aspirations.  In 1974, she studied at Larson’s School of Cosmetology in Spencer, IA, and upon graduation she opened her own hair salon.  'The Beauty Lounge' was established in 1975 where she built a sizable clientele over the years.

Hurley and Lois raised their four children in Ocheyedan.  During her new life in this small town, she became very attached to and mentored by Hurley’s mother Maxine.  She would comment that even if she hadn’t loved Hurley, she would have married him for his mother.  Life wasn’t always easy for this young bride with children, as she was often left alone for weeks at a time while Hurley was working miles away on road construction.  However, ALL four children will testify that though our parents weren’t perfect, they raised us in a home full of love and laughter.  As far as parenting goes, we would be hard pressed to find better.  Dad’s humble heart and quiet demeanor with his hard-work ethic to support his family, coupled with Mom’s determination to provide a place in which we could thrive and feel loved, made for a beautiful home (even though it was olive green)!

Lois loved flowers and raised beautiful rose gardens. She loved her dogs, reading, writing poetry and enjoyed crocheting, embroidering and sewing. She made many afghans, pillowcases, doilies, doll clothes and kids clothes for the family. She found great joy in her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was a wonderful wife, mom and grandma.

Her faith leaves a legacy pointing to Jesus Christ as the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  She was baptized as an adult on Sept. 4, 1988 by Ian Vickers (Lighthouse Alliance) at the Indian Lake Baptist Church.  She prayed faithfully for Hurley to experience and discover what she held so dear.  Her prayers were realized six years later when He prayed to give his heart to Christ with Pastor Gordon of the Lighthouse Alliance Church.  Three years later, Hurley was Baptized at the First Baptist Church of Sibley, IA in 1997. 

After Hurley’s passing in January of 2002, Lois penned these poetic verses:

“You were a Part of Me, you were a mirror into my soul: a stillness amidst my storms.

I Loved you deeply and with all of my heart.

You were a bright light that shone through my darkness:

A reflection of everything precious – any heart could ever hold in a lifetime.

In all of the world – and - with all that it holds….I Loved You!”

In 2012 she moved to an apartment complex in Luverne, MN, to be close to her sister Mildred. For the first time in their lives as sisters, they were able to live in the same place with one another. After the passing of Mildred, Lois moved to an apartment at the Viola House in Sibley, IA, where she received the best of assisted living care from the Weise family. In June of 2021, Lois moved to Country View Manor.  Just as she was beginning to enjoy her life at CVM, she fell and broke her wrist. Now wheelchair bound, her health diminished quite rapidly. 

Lois Mae Stahl stepped into the presence of her Savior on Tuesday Feb. 22, 2022 at the age of 87 years 3 months and 25 days after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.

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