Lois was born on June 17, 1924 in Hazleton, Iowa to John and Emily (Rathbun) Mumaw. She grew up on a farm in Northeast Iowa, milking cows with her dad and hitching up the Percheron draft horses. She got to see electricity and plumbing make its way to the farm.
Lois got a job at a munitions plant making bomb fuses during WWII, only because the company softball team needed a pitcher. She received a teaching certificate from Iowa State Teacher’s College, and began teaching 25 K-8th graders in a one room schoolhouse at the age of 19. Lois began teaching in Mt. Pleasant, where she met her husband Richard after the war. She taught in West Des Moines at Phoenix school for many years. Lois loved to read and taught hundreds of people how to read.
Lois gardened, baked, cooked, taught four of her kids how to knit, and loved to travel including Europe, England, Ireland, Japan, Germany, and throughout the U.S. She and Richard loved to play bridge, cards, bowl, swim, and loved to be with friends and family. They enjoyed attending Iowa Hawkeyes sporting events at many locations. Lois was a member of P.E.O., Windsor United Methodist Church and the women’s group, and the poetry club.
Lois passed away on August 31, 2021 at the age of 97. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Friday, at Windsor United Methodist Church. Her funeral will be at 2 p.m., Saturday, at the church.
Lois is lovingly remembered by her children: Rick Higgins, Pat (Carol) Higgins, Beth Higgins, and Barb (Chris) Hekel; grandchildren: Emily, Greg (Catherine), Patrick James, Anna, Katie (Rodney), Daniel (Helen), and David; great-grandchildren: Sophie, Abigail, Hanna, Tabitha, Charis Joy, Timothy, Mathias, and two on the way; and daughter-in-law, Sarah Higgins. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her son Doug, and an infant daughter Jane Elizabeth.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Windsor United Methodist Church.
