In Memory of Lois Ann Sykes

Lois Ann Sykes, age 81, of Ida Grove, Iowa, passed away on Friday, April 7, 2017, at the Willow Dale Wellness Village of Battle Creek, Iowa.

A Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, April 12, 2017 at the St. Paul Lutheran Church of Ida Grove, Iowa. The Reverend Richard A. Salcido and Reverend Neil Wehmas will officiate. Burial will be held at a later date in the Ida Grove Cemetery of Ida Grove, Iowa. A visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 11, 2017 at the St. Paul Lutheran Church of Ida Grove, Iowa. The Christensen - Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove, Iowa is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online to

www.christensenvanhouten.com

 Lois Ann Sykes was born on March 28, 1936 in Mapleton, Iowa to Orlando and Minnie (Schutt) Muckey.  She attended school in Ida Grove and graduated in 1954 where she participated in cheerleading and basketball.

Lois met Charles Sykes and the couple were united in marriage on February 13, 1955 in the St Paul Lutheran Church where they continued to be lifelong members.  The couple was blessed with three children: Karen, Dennis and Diane.

Lois and Charles spent most of their married life farming south of Ida Grove, Iowa where she enjoyed hunting wild asparagus, gardening, working in her beautiful flower beds, cooking and baking. Lois was busy as a housewife, yet still found the time to enjoy working at Gary and Marilyn Bridger’s Flower Shop, Murray Jewelry Store and Albrecht Pharmacy.  In 2011 she and Charles retired to Ida Grove. 

Lois was active in the St Paul Lutheran Church as a VBS and Sunday School teacher, member of the Dorcas Sewing Circle and the Ladies Aid.  She also was very active in the community as a volunteer for the Orphan Grain Train, member of the Grant Homemakers, Red Hat Society, Ida County Genealogical Society, Horn Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, and Morningside Care Center Auxiliary.

Lois and Charles loved traveling during the winter months to places like Hawaii, Colorado, Florida, Texas, Wyoming, Las Vegas and many other places while often meeting up with family and friends.  During their travels and many family events, Lois created more than 50 scrapbooks and photo albums recording the memories and adventures and shared them with family.   Lois had a passion for researching and working on genealogy and historical information of the Sykes and Muckey family branches and took a great deal of time and effort to create many family genealogical family albums.

Lois’s greatest joy was visiting and playing cards with friends, dancing on Saturday nights with Charles, planning parties, family reunions and picnics with family and friends.  During their travels they also enjoyed exploring many flea market and antique shop to add to their many collections.

Left to treasure her memory and follow in her footsteps , children: Karen (Tom) Gorum of Omaha, NE, Dennis (Sandy) Sykes of Ida Grove, IA, Diane (Corey) Bremer of Ida Grove, IA; grandchildren:  Tommy (Kelly), Jennifer (Kyle), Sarah (Mike), Melissa (Aaron), Camron (Mallory), Kirstyn (Jonny); great grandchildren: Lily, Zoey, Jamison, Ariana, Dylan, Connor, Leah, Decklan, Quinn, Lyrik, and Maverick; brother Dale (Carol) Muckey , Colorado Springs, CO and sister Marian (Dennis) Paulsen of Colorado Springs, CO and many nieces and nephews.

Lois was preceded in death by her parents, loving husband Charles Sykes, grandson Andrew Sykes, and brother Earl Muckey.