Lois F. Schanen, age 101, of Port Washington, Wisconsin, passed away Tuesday, November 29, 2022 at Lasata Care Center in Cedarburg.

Lois was born on May 24, 1921 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the daughter of Theresa Pierringer.  Lois attended St. Mary’s parochial school and Port Washington High. On May 1, 1940, Lois married Emil Schanen, the love of her life. They lived a wonderful life together which included building a home, raising their three children, family holidays and summer camping trips. She was a thoughtful and caring grandma and great grandma, known for her stories, wit, birthday cards and warm hugs.

Lois was an accomplished seamstress.  Over the years she made dresses and costumes for family and came to the aid of others with personal alterations when needed. Knitting, crocheting and baking items were always cherished.  Baked goods and special decorated cakes brought smiles to many, and her crocheted slippers and pot holders are the prized possession of dozens of people across the globe. Lois also had a green thumb; her flowerbeds were the envy of the neighborhood and her favorite den room was filled with plants. A prayerful woman, Lois was member of St. Mary’s and St. Peter’s parishes and an active member of the parish’s Christian Women Society.

Lois was proud of the fact that she lived in three Port homes in her lifetime. In fact, until three weeks prior to her illness, she lived independently in her tri-level home of 70 years and still kept up weekly social routines with her daughter Michelle, cousins and friends, not to mention keeping in touch with family across the country using the GrandPad she learned to use at age 99.

She is survived by her children Paul (Ann) Schanen of DePere, WI, Mary Ann (Sam) Johnson of Capitola, CA and Michelle (Paul) Roden of Cedarburg; nine grandchildren Patricia (the late John) White, Susan (Tim) Petrofske, Steven Schanen, Christine Abusaidi, Mike (Angela) Johnson, Julie (Lance) Longmire, Nicole Roden (Lucas), Emily Roden (Jared) and Eric Roden; eight great-grandchildren; Sydney, AliKhan, Arman, Amir, Nathan, Thomas, Luke and Cooper; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Lois was preceded in death by her mother, her husband Emil, and her half-brother Gerald Pierringer.

Her life will be celebrated with a memorial mass at 11AM Saturday, December 3, 2022 at St. Francis Borgia North, 1375 Covered Bridge Road, Cedarburg, WI.  Reverend Patrick Burns will be the celebrant.  Family will receive relatives and friends from 10AM-10:45AM AT CHURCH prior to the Mass. Interment will take place at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Port Washington.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to the family are appreciated, to be used for a park bench in Lois’s name on her favorite bluff, and a charity to be determined.

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9 Comments

  1. So grateful to Lois for being such a warm beautiful soul and for raising Mary Ann, our dear friend. The world was blessed to have had Lois. (And I will forever cherish those knitted slippers!)

  2. Dear Paul and Ann and Schanen family members,
    What a wonderfully long life your dear Mother had. It is so hard to imagine all the wonders that her generation experienced. I loved that she used a grandpad. Bill and I send our sympathy to all of you, as regardless of a persons age, losing a mother is difficult. Thinking of you.

  3. The Tom Dexel family of Santa Cruz Ca. extends their sincere condolences to the family of Lois Schanen. Her energetic gracious life example and generosity is reflected in her immediate family.
    May God bless you.

  4. The Boutros family offers sincere condolences to Grandma Lois’ loving family along with gratitude for the smiles and inspiration the stories of her life gave us during the last two years. We were fortunate to know of Lois via her devoted grandson, Eric, and our daughter Lauren. Marvelous lady, by every account! God bless you all, and may your grief be tempered by the remembrance of Lois’ love and affection as it continues to warm your hearts in years to come.

  5. We send our deepest sympathies to the Schanen family . What a accomplishment to live that long and be so active. Our blessings to all.

  6. My deepest sympathy to Paul, Mary Ann & Michelle on the loss of your mother. My dad, Loschel Pierringer, used to tell us stories of the trouble he, Mitzie and Lois got into when she would baby-sit for them. He always said that Lois was a lot of fun. He enjoyed every minute of the time they were able to spend together for his entire life.

  7. Lois I am going to miss you so much ! Not everyone can claim to have a client who is 101 1/2 ! Besides that, being one of the nicest people to know . You were the epitome of what a mother and grandmother should be . It showed in so many ways ! Funneled down to how your children and grandchildren treat others , and do good for others.
    I know standard line of “ you will be missed “ is always used at this time, but you truly will leave a hole in many hearts .
    Enjoy your heavenly peace, and keep watch over all the family, as I know you will !

  8. Nearly 45 years ago Lois, Emil, and Michelle opened their home to me for three months and they have been cherished friends ever since. Lois was a kind, generous, and loving woman who found the best in people. We corresponded regularly over many years and great distances and her letters were always full of news about her children, and then her grandchildren, and then her great grandchildren.

    I was delighted to be invited to her 100th birthday celebration and still found her, after so many years, to be the same warm, quick-witted woman I hadn’t seen in decades. The entire Schanen family made me feel welcome then as they did over forty years ago. Lois was a remarkable woman with an indomitable spirit and I am proud to have called her my friend. I will miss her (and her slippers!) and send my deepest condolences to her loving family.

  9. Dear Extended Schanen Family,
    Lois was a true inspiration for aging gracefully! I will always remember her as a warm and caring neighbor, who despite hardships, lived life to the fullest. Her spunk and determination served her well. She once gave me her strawberry pie recipe, but it never tasted as good as when she baked it!

    Wishing you peace knowing that she and Emil are now reunited forever! You have my deepest sympathy.

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