Lois Adeline Wichmann

Lois A. Wichmann age 97 of Shakopee, MN, formerly of Balaton, MN, died Saturday, December 31, 2011 at her home in Shakopee. Services will be held 11:00 AM Thursday, January 5, 2012 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Belle Plain, MN. Visitation will be from 5:00 until 8:00 PM Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at the Almlie Funeral Home in Balaton, with a prayer service at 7:30 PM and continuing one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday. A luncheon will be served immediately following the service in the church social hall. Interment will be 3:30 PM Thursday, January 5, 2012 in the St. Peter’s Lutheran Cemetery in Balaton. The Almlie Funeral Home of Balaton his handling the arrangements. Lois Adeline Wichmann was born October 26, 1914 to Elbridge and Lucille (Anderson) Gifford in Balaton, MN, Lyon County. She was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith and attended Balaton Public Schools, graduating from Balaton High School in 1934. As a young girl, she was considered the tom-boy of the four girls in her family, and often helped her father deliver fuel. On September 19, 1937 Lois married Wallace A. Wichmann at her parent’s home in Balaton. They made their home on the family farm two miles south of Balaton. She lived first in the Balaton Circle Pines Apartments and later moved to the Lutheran Home Apartments in Belle Plain, MN. Then in 2005 she moved into the Community Assisted Living in Shakopee, MN. Lois was a past member of the St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Balaton and a current member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Belle Plain, where she was a member of the Knotters Quilters. Over the years she was active as a 4H leader, in the Farm bureau, a member of the Balaton School Board, Bridge Club and a Quilting Club in Shakopee. She enjoyed playing cards, quilting, and gardening and loved spending time with her family. On Saturday, December 31, 2011 Lois passed away, surrounded by her loving family, at the Community Assisted Living in Shakopee, MN at the age of 97. Lois is survived by her two daughters, Sharon Hatch of Princeton, ME and Janis (Bill) Donovan of Rochester, MN; six sons, Wally (Jean) Wichmann of Balaton, MN, Leon (Joan) Wichmann of Merritt Island, FL, Kent (Kathy) Wichmann of Cottage Grove, MN, Jim (Bernie) Wichmann of Balaton, MN, Dean (Mary) Wichmann of Shakopee, MN and Don Wichmann of WA; twenty five grandchildren; forty two great grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; one brother-in-law, Paul Meyer of Mankato, MN; nieces, nephews and many friends. Her husband, Wallace, her parents and three sisters, Ruth Petersen, Lucille Woerpel and Wilda Meyer preceded her in death.