Lois E Owen

KENDALLVILLE — Lois Owen, 92, of Kendallville, passed away in her home early in the morning on Feb. 5, 2018.

Lois was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 10, 1925. She was one of the four children born to John P. H. and Bertha Ehlers. When she was seven years old, Lois moved to Kendallville with her family when her father became school principal, teacher, and church organist at St. John Lutheran School and Church. It was there that she met her best friend, Helen Mountz, who was to be her best friend for 85 years.

Lois was married to her loving husband, Robert Owen, for over 50 years, until his death on January 8, 1994. Children born to their marriage include Judith Rapchak, Steven Owen, and Robert (Michelle) Owen. Lois was a loving grandmother to six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Grandchildren include Joseph (Jennifer) Rapchak, Laura Rapchak and Susan (Adam) Sprague, as well as Jennifer (Scott) Walters, Lisa Chambers and Matthew (Staci) Owen. Great-grandchildren include Nicolas, Zoe and Andrew Rapchak, Aiden and Alex Sprague, Blake and Katelyn Walters, Owen Chambers, and Tyler and Hailey Owen.

Lois was a lifelong member of St. John Lutheran Church. She was head of the Kendallville City Water Department for some time and finished her working career as a bookkeeper for the Hostetter Wholesale Gun Company in Avilla. She enjoyed playing bridge with her life-long friends, cooking, gardening, travel with her husband, and life itself. Most of all, she enjoyed being a wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother to her family. She was the center of her family's lives and was known as the “Matriarch” for all who knew and loved her.

Lois was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; one sister, Doris Ehlers, and a brother and sister-in-law, Jack and Betty Ehlers; and one granddaughter, Laura Rapchak.

Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018, at Harper Funeral Homes, Avilla Chapel, 530 N. Main St., Avilla, with visitation one half hour prior. Pastor Robert Shriner will be officiating. Visitation also from 3-6 p.m. Friday. Feb. 9, 2018, at the funeral home. Burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery, Kendallville.

Memorial donations may be made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Indianapolis. To leave online condolences or sign the guestbook, visit www.harperfuneralhomes.com.

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