Lois J. Watt

Lois J. Watt, 82, of Worms, died Monday, June 16, 2014, at the Greater Regional Hospice House in Creston, Iowa. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Zion Lutheran Church in Worms. The Rev. Craig K. Niemeier will officiate. Visitation will be Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the church. Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is in charge of the arrangements. Lois Jane Watt was born on April 24, 1932, the daughter of Henry R. and Helen M. (Bruns) Bader, at their home in rural St. Libory. She was united in marriage to Everett H. Watt on June 12, 1955, at Zion Lutheran Church in Worms. He preceded her in death on Feb. 10, 2006. She is survived by four sons and daughters-in-law, Michael and Irma Watt of Columbus, Dorian and Mary Watt of Wood River, Rev. Jonathan and Waunita Watt of Creston, IA and Nathaniel and Theresa Watt of Northrop, MN; one daughter and son-in-law, Natalie and Rev. Bill Sabol of Winnebago, MN; three brothers and two sisters-in-law, Henry Bader of Le Mars, IA, Ted and Marilyn Bader of St. Paul and Bill and Andrea Bader of St. Libory; and three sisters and two brothers-in-law, Joan Vetter of Mazomanie, Wisc., Wilbur Tewes of Bennett, Betty Rasch of Denton, TX and Carol and Rev. Tom Stephan of Twin Falls, Wisc. She also leaves to cherish her memory, 12 grandchildren, Elia Soto, Eloy and Kathleen Watt, Luke Watt, Rebekah And Adam Gish, Esther Watt, Joshua and Kristin Watt, Miciah Watt, Hannah Watt, Zachariah Watt, Deborah Watt, Ryan Sabol and Kristof Sabol; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins. Lois was baptized at Zion Lutheran Church in Worms, where she was also confirmed. She attended Zion Lutheran School until the eighth grade and graduated from St. Paul High School in 1951. The last two years of high school she did Normal training so she could start teaching upon graduation. After she and Everett were married they first lived in Oconomowoc, WI. They had five children over the next ten years and Lois took time from teaching to raise them. She began her teaching career in 1951 in Indianola, NE and continued in various Lutheran and public schools in Chicago, IL, Norfolk, St. Louis, MO, Gresham, Waco, Archer and Worms. She received her Lutheran Teaching Certificate in 1955 and her BA in Education in 1974, both from Concordia Teachers College and began working toward her Masters in Education. Lois retired in 1997. She and Everett then fulfilled a life-long desire to serve as volunteer missionaries throughout the world. Together they served in Jamaica, Venezuela and China. Lois also spent a year in Nigeria after Everett died. The couple were gifted artists and they enjoyed creating various pieces of art, that included paintings, sketchings, wood carvings, Bible chalk talks, murals and much more. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church and was a former church choir member. She was also a member of LWML and the Lutheran Education Association. She had served as District Secretary of the Lutheran Teachers Association, served on the District Lutheran Family Life Committee, several offices in the Zone Lutheran Teachers and led many workshops for Lutheran teachers. She was also involved in Zion's Journey to the Manger. Lois enjoyed quilting, reading, gardening, traveling to see her children and grandchildren and a trip to Israel. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; infant twin daughters; three grandchildren, Omar Soto, Noah and Elise Watt; two brothers, Harry Bader and David Bader; a sister, June Tewes; sister-in-law, Florence Bader; and two brothers-in-law, Rev. Walter Rasch and Rev. Eugene Vetter. Following the funeral and according to her wishes, Lois' body will be donated to the Anatomical Board of the State of Nebraska, where it will be used by medical students to further their education. At a later date she will be buried in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Worms, next to her husband. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Zion Lutheran Church or Synod Seminaries.