Funeral services for Lois Thisius, 82, of Albert Lea, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Salem Lutheran Church. The Rev. Jay Dahlvang will officiate. Interment will be at Hillcrest Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church.
Lois died Monday, Aug. 3, 2009, at Thorne Crest Retirement Center.
Lois Thisius was born on Aug. 22, 1926, to Edward and Rose (Salzmann) Barnick in Wells. Lois grew up in the Wells area and attended the Locke School in Wells. On Sept. 9, 1948, she was united in marriage to Merlyn Thisius in Wells. They made their home in Albert Lea where Lois was employed as a nurse aide and as a housekeeper at St. John’s Lutheran Home. Lois was a member of Salem Lutheran Church. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, The Lois Club and the VFW Ladies Auxiliary. Lois enjoyed traveling, cooking and spending time with family and friends. She especially enjoyed being with her grandchildren.
Survivors include her husband, Merlyn; son, Terry (Catherine) Thisius of Rochester; daughters: Linda (Ken) Larson of Oronoco and Nancy (Paul) Gilman of Rochester; grandchildren: Erin and Casey Larson, Shane and Tori Gilman and Anna and Sara Thisius; brothers: Gene (Arlean) Barnick of Wells, and Harold (Dorothy) Barnick of Lake Crystal; sisters: Donna Steinhauer of Wells and Mary (Les) Coy of Elmore.
Lois was preceded in death by her parents, Rose and Edward Barnick; sister, Janice Schieck; brothers: Richard, Robert and Henry Barnick; and grandson, Brandon Gilman.