Her journey into this world was miraculous in itself as Lois’s mother suffered appendicitis while pregnant and neither were expected to survive. However, she defied the odds, an indication of her strong constitution that would serve her well. After many moves to various towns throughout Nebraska, the family settled on a farm in Filley, Nebraska. As a young girl, she and her 7 siblings would help with the myriad tasks of tending to livestock and her mother’s extensive vegetable garden. Lois told of those days, rising early to take the cows out to pasture across town, and then bringing them back in the evening. She fondly recalled her hardworking mother putting up preserves of all kinds every summer and fall in preparation for the cold winters.
In 1941, at the age of 19, Lois, along with her parents and younger siblings, moved to California as had her older sister, Doris before them. There she later met her future husband, John Nankervis, whose family had arrived in the California foothills during the gold rush. From all accounts, it was love at first sight, and anyone who knew them can attest to their deep love and adoration for each other. After several years together, they married and eventually bought a neat little home in Wilmington, California, where they resided for over 50 years.
Lois worked for McDonald Douglas during WWII as a riveter. She was one of those infamous “Rosie the Riveters” who wielded a heavy hydraulic rivet gun to affix the aluminum skin to the airframes of C47 Skytrains, which were DC-3’s converted into troop transport planes. She proudly proclaimed that she and the other women had built tens of thousands of those planes during the war. Sadly, for Lois this work damaged her hearing significantly, which at times made communication a difficult but often creative process. Her intrepid spirit always carried her through.
When Lois married John, he had a son from a prior marriage, Robert Nankervis, deceased 2016. Lois played an important role in raising Robert, often feeding lunch to his car enthusiast buddies who would come to the house to work on their cars, with John’s experienced guidance. Later Lois would take on the role of grandmother to Robert’s two children with great enthusiasm.
During these years, Lois and John were avid bowlers on leagues at the local bowling alley, Cove Bowl. Lois loved everything about bowling—the community, the competition, the physicality. She won dozens of trophies which she displayed proudly and would engage in wacky victory dances upon landing a good shot. Lois brought this generous fun loving, kooky energy to everyone in her life, always brightening up the room with laughter and delight.
After John passed away in 2000, Lois was devastated but managed the transition well. She never drove a car but managed all of her errands in her close-knit neighborhood, walking to the grocery store, the bank, post office, and her beloved Mexican restaurant. She continued to bowl for many years well into her 80’s and maintained strong relationships with her bowling friends and others. Her heartiness, independence, and considerable exercise contributed to her health and longevity. Once in her 80’s, she was knocked down by a car in a cross walk and just got up and walked away. This was typical Lois style.
Lois managed well for about a decade on her own, but then things got a bit more challenging. She moved from her beloved home in Wilmington, which she called the “The Little Adobe Shack” (it wasn’t a shack or an adobe), to a home near her sister, Opal, in Auburn California, near where John’s family had been back in the day. She remained there for two years and then moved in with her sister, Doris, in San Jose, which turned out to be a great arrangement for both of them. At 96 years old, Lois saw it as her role and proud duty to take care of and look after her big sister, Doris. She enthusiastically took on the cooking and household chores and insisted on waiting on her sister, hand and foot. In May of 2020, Lois and Doris moved back to Nebraska with their niece to be closer to family. Lois was awed by this return to her roots and loved recounting all of the changes that she noticed since she had left there. Lois’s proximity to family was such a great support to her in these last years, which enabled her to live independently with her sister with the caring support and love of her extended family.
After a brief illness, Lois passed away peacefully on 12/13/2021 just two months shy of her 100th birthday. She is survived by her two sisters, Doris Franco (101) and Opal Garton (103). Asked what the secret is to longevity, the sisters would say “don’t eat too much, don’t drink too much, and work hard!” Of course, hearty genes come into play too. Lois had a unique sensibility imbued with innocence, kindness, generosity, good humor, fun, and mischievousness. She always conveyed deep love and adoration for those important to her, and always had a twinkle in her eye that seemed to suggest “hang on and have a fun ride!” We think she did.
Funeral Service: 11:30 a.m. Saturday (12-18-21) Roper and Sons South Lincoln Chapel, 3950 Hohensee Drive.
Burial will be 1:30 p.m. Saturday in the Blue Springs Cemetery, Blue Springs, NE.
Visitation with family present will be one hour prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in honor of Lois to “Irreverent Warriors”. (See link below)