LOIS ANN ALEXANDER Sept. 29, 1931 – Aug. 8, 2017
Lois Ann Alexander, 85, passed away in Grand Junction, Colorado on August 8, 2017.
Lois was born on September 29, 1931, in Sigel, Wisconsin, to the Reverend Gustav and Emma Krueger. She was the fourth of six children. Lois attended the Milwaukee School of Nursing and then moved to Denver, Colorado, in 1955 to live with her sister Jean, and to work at Colorado General Hospital. On April 1, 1957, Lois and her dear friend, Nancy Maltrud, borrowed and loaded up a green Hornet and headed to a land unknown–Los Alamos, New Mexico–to work at Los Alamos Medical Center. It was at LAMC where she met many of her lifelong friends, including her close friend, Lois Hudgins. While in Los Alamos, Lois was an active member and part of the church family at Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Lois had many adventures in her life, but the greatest may have been her marriage to Lon Alexander. Lois and Lon met at the Los Alamos Golf Club in early 1959, and were married October 6, 1959. Together they motored houseboats at Lake Powell, camped in Colorado, explored Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and steamed up the Columbia River. One of Lois’ favorite locations was Blue Lake, near Minocqua, Wisconsin, where she spent summers growing up with her siblings and was later able to share those memories with her children and grandchildren. One of her greatest joys was spending time with her children and young grandchildren.
Lois took time off from work to raise their three children and eventually returned to nursing in Dr. Richard Honsinger’s office. It was in that office that she formed some of her longest friendships and where she had some of the greatest fun and laughs of her entire life.
Lois and Lon moved to Grand Junction, Colorado in 1995. Lois was a devoted Christian and Lutheran her entire life and lived her life in that manner. She was a member of the Lutheran Church of Messiah in Grand Junction. She never wanted to use a computer; instead she wrote letters in her perfect handwriting, and ordered clothes via catalogue. She always enclosed a handwritten note in each Christmas card she wrote. She was many things to many people: to her grandkids she was an endless source of hugs and chocolate chip cookies. She was the perfect “Nana” for the grandkids, with their well-being her priority. To her children, she was selfless, caring, and a saint in their eyes. To her husband, she was loving and patient. To her friends, she was steadfast, loyal, honest and kind.
She is preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, Jean Upham and Doris Nelson, and one brother, Ralph Krueger. She leaves behind her husband of 57 years, Lon, children Mike (Ruby) Alexander, Scott (Jeanette) Alexander, and Sarah (Ralph) Boggs, and nine grandchildren, Colin, Dillon, Mackenzie, Scotty, Jasmine, Jada, Jill, Mitchell and Lucy. Also surviving are her sisters Mary Ellen “Boo” Kramer and Karen Wagner. She has many nephews and nieces who loved her greatly and will miss their “Aunt Loie.” She leaves a legacy of selfless generosity, humility and kindness.
Tributes may be made to Hope West Hospice (2754 Compass Dr. #377, Grand Junction, CO 81506) or Lutheran Church of Messiah (840 North 11th St., Grand Junction, CO 81501). A memorial service will take place on Saturday, August 19, at 11:00 AM at the Lutheran Church of Messiah in Grand Junction, Colorado. Arrangements are under the direction of Callahan-Edfast in Grand Junction, Colorado.
A memorial service and interment will be held in Los Alamos, NM on Saturday, September 23 at 11 AM at the Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church in Los Alamos, New Mexico.