Lois De Vries

Hawarden, Iowa- Lois A. De Vries, 88, of Hawarden, died Monday, April 15, 2013 at the Hawarden Regional Healthcare Hospital.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hawarden with Father Roger Linnan officiating. Burial will follow in the Grace Hill Cemetery. Public viewing will be noon to 4:00 p.m. Thursday at the Porter Funeral Home in Hawarden. Visitation with the family will begin at 6 p.m. followed by a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. at the St. Mary's Catholic Church. Condolences may be sent to www.porterfuneralhomes.com.

Lois A. De Vries was born April 18, 1924 in Vermillion, South Dakota, the daughter of Wayne, Sr. and Anna (Kavanaugh) Hedden. She married Lester Roy De Vries July 4, 1942. They lived in Hawarden before moving to California. They returned to Iowa after 5 years and made their home on a farm near Alcester South Dakota where they raised their family. In 1979 they moved to Hawarden where Lois did various odd jobs. She worked in the laundry at a nursing home and also was employed at Supreme Egg in Sioux Center. She later worked at the Soo Motel in Hawarden. Lester died November 8, 2006.

Lois enjoyed raising her family and attending her children's and grandchildren's school events. She liked word find books, painting ceramics, playing bingo, and watching baseball. Lois was well known for making mints and cookies for others and everyone knew her as their 'grandma.' She was a member of the St. Mary's Catholic Church and lived the past 10 years at Hillcrest Health Care Center.

She is survived by children, Sandy Gradert and husband Wilbur of Hawarden, Norma Rabey and husband Bill of Akron, Iowa, Judy Danielson, John De Vries and wife Willy, Lannie De Vries and wife Twila, Evelyn Schoppman and husband Mick, Madonna Grubb and husband Chris all of Hawarden, and Susan Taylor and husband George of Le Mars, Iowa; 33 grandchildren; 73 great-grandchildren; and many great-great-grandchildren; and a sister, Sheila Smith of Hawarden.

Lois was preceded in death by her parents; husband; son-in-law, Sharon Danielson; 2 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; a brother, Wayne Hedden; and sisters, Fern Van Wyhe, Evelyn Klave, Marion Smith, Shirley Lee, and infant sister, Geraldine who died at childbirth.