Lois A. Copeland passed away peacefully on October 19. She was born on March 14, 1923 in Homer, Nebraska as the eldest of Victor and Mabel Hansen's three daughters.  The family moved to South Sioux City after surviving a major flood of the Missouri River in 1939.   Upon graduation from high school Lois went to nursing school and became an R.N. before enlisting and being commissioned as a lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps in 1943.  She met the love of her life, John, a tall infantry lieutenant from Louisiana at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, when he crashed the doctor's and nurse's Halloween Party while both were in their final stages of training.  After a whirlwind two weeks Lois was shipped out to France. In November, 1944, she climbed down the ropes on the side of the troop ship to land in Le Havre. Twenty one year old Lois served as a nurse in the 30th Field Hospital which followed so closely behind the combat raging across France that her hospital was strafed and hit by a bomb from a new type of German plane called a jet.  She was proud to have treated both wounded American soldiers and German prisoners.   Somehow she managed to keep in touch with John, who had been deployed to the south of France.  They became engaged during a phone call in which the messages were relayed by an Army phone operator. Shortly after the war ended they were married on September 24, 1945, at the American Church in Paris. After being stationed with the occupying forces in a destroyed Berlin for over 6 months she was sent back to the states for the birth of their first son, Jack, which occurred on August 23, 1946.  Lois was honorably discharged the same year. 

          After returning to the states Lois attended two semesters at LSU. In 1949 John began his career with Swift & Co. in  Sioux City, Iowa where Lois continued her nursing career before devoting full time to her family.  As John moved up through the corporate ranks the family moved to Chicago in 1953, Jackson, Mississippi in 1958, Wilson, N.C. in 1960, Denver, Colo. in 1961 and Clarendon Hills/ Hinsdale, Ill. in 1963.  They lived there until retirement years when they split their time between Chicago and Ft. Myers.

          Lois was an incredibly devoted daughter to her father and mother who lived to the age of 96.   She was active as a volunteer at local hospitals, several local charities and taught Sunday School for many years She was also proud to be a Life Master in Bridge which she attained at the age of 80 in a tournament in Omaha competing with the likes of Warren Buffett and Bill Gates.  She was a fabulous cook, avid golfer and past mixed double tennis champion at the Hinsdale Golf Club.  She loved traveling abroad with John.  Among her favorite memories were two trips to Europe with her daughters-in-law, Rhonda, Bonnie and Mary, whom she loved as her own daughters. 

          Lois leaves a legacy of three children, eight grandchildren and nine great grandchildren that were the light of her life. Her sense of humor and willingness to take on any challenge, from fighting Hitler in her 20's  to visiting Egypt in her 80's and all challenges in between, is an inspiration for all of us. She was truly loved by her many friends in Hinsdale, at The Forest  Country Club and Cypress Cove where they lived the last four and a half years. 

          Lois was preceded in death by her cherished parents, sisters Ruth and Jean and her son John, Jr. (Jack)  She is survived by her husband John, and sons Wade (Bonnie) of Atlanta, Ga. and Victor ( Mary Beth)  of Willowbrook, Ill., and Jack's widow, Rhonda, of  Dublin, Ohio.

          There will be a memorial service to honor Lois' memory at 1:00 on Saturday, November 9 at Cypress Cove.  It will be followed immediately   by a reception to celebrate her life which will also be at Cypress Cove.  In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial donations be made to Hope Hospice, 9470 HealthPark Circle, Fort Myers, Fla. 33908