Lois M. Thiessen, 83, of Hesston, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, October 7, 2020, at Schowalter Villa. She was born December 10, 1936 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Aaron O. and Mary G. (Musser) Stauffer.
After graduating high school, Lois went to Eastern Mennonite College in Harrisburg, Virginia for two years. She taught elementary school for a few years then went back to school and graduated from Millersville University in Millersville, Pennsylvania. Lois continued teaching in Pennsylvania following graduation.
During a visit to her brother in Newton, Kansas, she landed a job as a librarian for two different elementary schools. It was during this time, through mutual friends, she met Harvey Thiessen. They were married September 26, 1970 at West Zion Mennonite Church in Moundridge. They enjoyed 50 years together.
Lois went on to work for Hesston Elementary School as the librarian for 24 years, where she retired in 1996. During her retirement, Lois volunteered at Newton Medical Center in the surgery waiting area, and was in charge of fundraisers for the hospital auxiliary. Lois and Harvey were members of West Zion Mennonite Church in Moundridge, where she served as the librarian and also taught Sunday school classes. She has also acted as chairman and treasurer for Harvey County Teacher’s Board. Lois and Harvey did a lot of traveling and worked for 10,000 Villages, volunteering for 10 years.
Lois is survived by her husband, Harvey Thiessen of Hesston; daughter, Julie Buller and husband David of Lawrence; son, Murray Thiessen and wife Lisa of Palisade, Colorado; four grandchildren, Riley and Sydney Buller, Travis Thiessen and wife Haley, and Abby Thiessen; sister, Mary Jane Rutter and husband Charles of Lancaster, Pennsylvania; sisters-in-law, Ruth Anne Stauffer of Lititz, Pennsylvania and Linda Stauffer of Newton; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
She is preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Katie Stauffer, Elizabeth Burkhart, Verna Musser and Eva Fox; and brothers, Enos Stauffer, Jack Stauffer and Alfred Stauffer.
Private graveside services will be held at Hesston City Cemetery. Family will greet friends from 4-6 p.m., Friday. October 23, 2020 at Miller-Ott Funeral Home, Hesston. Memorial contributions may be made to Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), Good Shepherd Hospice or West Zion Mennonite Church, in care of Miller-Ott Funeral Home, PO Box 32, Hesston, KS 67062.
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