Lois Marie (Schmitt) Gengler was born March 29, 1935 at the Schmitt family farmhouse near Tipton, Kan. On July 7, 2020, she passed peacefully at the Gengler family farmhouse north of Beloit, Kan., her beloved home for the last 60 years. Lois was the 4th of seven children born to Nicholas and Madeline (Matheis) Schmitt. Lois attended Tipton Catholic schools, graduating as Valedictorian of her class. Lois always had a servant heart, displayed at an early age when she stayed at home and turned down a full college scholarship to help care for her family after her mother passed away due to illness when Lois was only 14 years old. Many people benefitted from Lois's many talents and serving attitude throughout her life, whether it was from countless hours spent baking delicious food, serving at banquets or funeral dinners with the Ladies Guild, creating, altering and mending countless clothing items for family and friends over the years and creating beautiful quilts on her own or with the St. John's Quilters group she looked so forward to meeting with every Tuesday at the parish offices for many years. If help was needed, Lois was there working tirelessly and giving of her time, talent and treasure.
Lois was united in marriage to Robert Leo Gengler (Bob) on September 26, 1959 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Tipton, Kan. She celebrated over 50 years of marriage with Bob before he passed away July 14, 2010. To their union six boys were born and raised on the farm. The home had no air conditioning and little heat for many years, but there was always a loving mother working to provide what the boys needed. Lois held strongly to her Catholic faith, praying at least one Rosary and a Chaplet of Divine Mercy, sometimes more, quietly by herself at her home or with a group while driving to an event. Lois was a proud member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Beloit for over 60 years, and a devoted supporter of Catholic schools. From the time her boys started playing sports to the last game played by the basketball team in 2020, Lois seldom missed a game, especially if a family member was on the team. That was usually the case, since in addition to her six boys, Lois had 21 grandchildren and five great grandchildren (a 6th pending at time of publication) when she passed. In addition to her own children, Lois supported countless other children in the community, worldwide mission causes, and was a staunch supporter of unborn children throughout her life.
Though age eventually chose a different color for Lois's hair, she was a proud red headed gal in her younger years. She enjoyed polka dancing (even trying, mostly in vain, to teach the art to her boys at home to the tunes of the Big Joe Polka Show on TV, an endeavor the boys were glad to keep private at home!) Lois and Bob met at a community dance in Beloit and enjoyed many wedding dances in Tipton and the surrounding area over the years. Lois always enjoyed visiting with friends and family, and if there was time, a game of Pinochle was often involved. For as long as we can remember, she gathered on a regular basis with ladies in the community to play cards, and if the grandkids were playing a board game or card game, Grandma was always up for it.
Lois was preceded in death by her sister Marylene Cordel and her brothers Ralph and Harry Schmitt. Lois is survived and will be deeply missed by her six sons, Craig (and wife Jolene), Galen, Randy (and wife Tamra), Dean (and wife Amy) Dale (and wife Janet) all of Beloit and Scott (and wife Crystal) of Falun, Kan., grandchildren and great grandchildren, her sisters Claire Jean Kohn of Laurel, Nebraska, Maxine (husband Ray) Bannister of San Lorenzo, California, brother Richard (wife Carolyn) Schmitt of Cawker City, Kansas, sister-in-laws Laurine Schmitt (husband Ralph deceased) and Phyllis Schmitt (husband Harry deceased), numerous nieces, nephews and many other family members and friends.
Family-only funeral services were held at 10 AM Saturday, July 11 at the St. John's Catholic Church. A family-only parish rosary service was held at 7 PM Friday at the Church.
Memorials may be given to St. John's Schools.
Roberts Family Funeral Service, Beloit, is in charge of arrangements.
Condolences may be left at www.robertsfamilyfs.com.