Lois Klomparens

The noblest of professions has nothing to do with fame or fortune, with awards or accolades, only with giving, and teaching. Lois Klomparens devoted her life to teaching those around her, in the schools, in her community, and in her home. She was a devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, yet most of all, she was a teacher, whose lessons and love live on today in all who knew her.

Lois’s story began on a cool day in 1924, as the last of the leaves left the trees in Rochester, New York. Those were such exciting times in this country, the heyday of the Roaring 20s, when Big Bands were king and Prohibition was the law of the land. On November 25, 1924, Jay and Louise (Liese) Catteau celebrated the birth of a beautiful baby girl, a daughter they named Lois.

Lois was joined by her brother Jack and sisters Leola and Louise in the family’s Rochester home. Sadly, her mother died when she was just a little girl, and so she was raised by her Aunt Martha, who was her father’s sister.

Lois was a very intelligent, hardworking young girl, and after she graduated from high school, she worked at Sibley’s Shoes to support herself, and to pay her way through college. Lois attended the State Teachers College of Brockport and graduated in 1945.

A few years later, Lois agreed to be a bridesmaid at her friend’s wedding. There she met a handsome young man named Dale Klomparens, who was one of the groomsmen. Needless to say, there was more than one lifelong love affair formed that day!

They hit it off and began dating, which was somewhat difficult, because Dale lived in Michigan. He was a truck driver by trade, and would plan times to see Lois when he came through New York on his route. After a brief courtship, the happy couple was married, on July 8, 1949, at Dale’s parent’s home in front of the clock in the family living room on 24th Street in Holland, Michigan.

The newlyweds lived in Holland starting out, before moving to Muskegon and later Grand Rapids. They were blessed with two beautiful daughters, Terry and Carol, who filled their lives with such pride and joy over the years. Eventually, the new family settled on the sandy shores of Holland, where they raised their girls, and where Lois began teaching for Cherry Lane Nursery School and later for the West Ottawa School District.

Even as she taught, Lois was also devoted to learning, and went back to school herself. In 1964, she proudly earned her Master’s degree in teaching from Michigan State University. It wasn’t easy working full-time, raising a family, and commuting to East Lansing, but Lois always had a “I can do it,” attitude about everything in her life.

Despite her schooling and her studies, Lois made sure her family never suffered because of it. She was completely dedicated to her family all her life, from her husband and children, to her family back in New York they visited on occasion. Family suppers were a very important tradition in the Klomparens home – especially Holiday get-togethers. As a young family they attended Trinity Reformed Church. Lois was also very supportive of her daughters, and served as a Campfire Girls’ Group and Horizon Leader for a few years, too.

Lois enjoyed the outdoors, and the family had a fun pontoon boat called the “Old Milwaukee Sipper” they enjoyed over the years.

Lois had other loves, particularly shopping, and especially bargain hunting. She loved to shop, whether it was Meijer’s, Kohl’s, or the Holland Farmer’s Market, it didn’t matter. She was a very classy lady, with excellent taste in jewelry and watches and other fine things (and she had her nails done frequently, too), but she loved getting a good deal even more.

Lois retired in 1988, after more than 25 years in the West Ottawa School District. She continued to serve others in her well-deserved retirement, however. Lois began volunteering at Holland Hospital, and graciously donated more than 10,000 hours of her time to helping her community over the years.

As the years went on, her beloved Dale’s health began to decline, and Lois lovingly cared for her husband during the final years of his life, until he died on New Year’s Day in 2003. Ever the independent woman she was, Lois persevered, and never wanted to be a bother or burden to anyone.

Sadly, Lois died on Sunday, July 29, 2007, at Holland Hospital, at the age of 82.

Lois was a wonderful woman, who lived a wonderful life, a life dedicated to teaching those around her. She was a devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, yet most of all, Lois was a teacher, whose lessons, life and love live on today in all who knew her. She will be greatly missed.

Lois was preceded in death by her husband, Dale Klomparens on January 1, 2003. She is survived by her children, Terry and Keith Nyboer of Saugatuck and Carol and Rich Ray of Holland; six grandchildren; one great granddaughter; her sister, Louise Bagshaw of Newark, NY; her brother Jack and Sharon Catteau of Cross, South Carolina; several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday at 11:00am at Trinity Reformed Church, 712 Apple Avenue with Rev. Lynn Post officiating. Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 6-8pm at the Mulder Chapel, Dykstra Lifestory Funeral Homes, 188 West 32nd Street. Burial will take place at Restlawn Memorial Gardens. Memorial Contributions may be given to the Holland Hospital Foundation. Arrangements by Dykstra Life Story Funeral Homes, Inc., Mulder Chapel. To share a memory or photo of Lois, or to sign her online guestbook, please visit her Memory Page at www.lifestorynet.com.