Lois Madolyn (nee Hamm) Ahlhauser
MILWAUKEE - Lois Madolyn (nee Hamm) Ahlhauser was called from this life to eternal life on June 16, 2022. Joyfully welcomed by her husband, John, parents, sisters, infant daughter Martha and infant great grandson Reza Noor. Born on November 15, 1925 in Arkansas City KS, the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression were her childhood influencers. She graduated from Enid OK high school in 1942 and went on to graduate from St Joseph School of Nursing in Joliet Il. (Joliet was the furthest from home that she was allowed to go as it was the last stop on the rail line that employed her father. She lied on her application to St Joe’s as she was underage, having graduated high school at 16.) She received her BS in nursing from Marquette University in 1947. Lois also received her MS in early childhood education in 1972. With these skills, and in addition to her work as an RN, she taught clinicals at Marquette, Children’s Hospital and Alverno College and rose to Division Chair of Human Services, Health and Visual Communications Technologies at IVY Tech while living in Bloomington IN from 1972-2001. (Yes, education was a priority!) In keeping with that tradition, Lois donated her body to the Medical College of Wisconsin.
Even more so, her commitment to faith and social justice drove her daily decisions. Her activism was visible in the Civil Rights Movement (even if she couldn’t march, she sent her kids), Christian Family Movement, International Institute, Voice of the Faithful, St John’s on the Lake Health Committee, Call to Action and every single election cycle.
Anyone who managed to get to know Lois discovered her love of art, a crucial spiritual outlet for her. From textiles and silk screening (Yes, she designed Christmas cards and we made 500 silk-screened, typeset, handmade, hand-addressed cards every year) to teaching summer art classes for neighborhood kids to quilting to sewing kids’ bathrobes and costumes, she did it all in her “spare time”.
As was typical of the day, Mom was a one-woman support team for John. One of the original feminists, she applied her talents to her and John’s social justice, professional and academic pursuits and successes. They proved to be an invincible team. We are comforted by their reunion.
As if that wasn’t enough, she (and John) raised 6 kids (Kate [Joe] Meloy, Bill Ahlhauser [Ellen Parmalee], Mary/Mame [Bill] O’Meara, Ann [Jim] Ryan, Margi Ahlhauser, Joan Barchi) all of whom survive her. In addition to her children and their partners, she is survived by 12 grandchildren (and partners), 6 great-grandchildren and countless nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life, Light and Color will take place at St John’s on the Lake Chapel (central tower), 1840 N Prospect Av., Milwaukee WI on Thursday 6/30/2022 at 11am.
The family is especially grateful to the entire St John’s staff for the loving care Mom received in the Stratford community since moving there in December 2020. Their care and loving attention were invaluable to Mom – and to all of us.
The service will be live on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6128500269
In lieu of flowers, donations preferred to: https://www.maryspence.org/ ways-to-help/donate/