Obituaries : Lois Wunschel

Lois Ann Wunschel, 92, of Carroll, Iowa, passed away Monday, Feb. 6, 2023.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Carroll. Pastor Ryan Roehrig will officiate, and the casket bearers will be Dave Wunschel, Steve Wunschel, Blair Elliott, Austin Crouse, Brenden Elliott and Jacob Wunschel Burial will be at Carroll City Cemetery following the funeral services.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17, at Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll followed by a prayer service at 7 p.m. Visitation at the church will be from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. Saturday.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll, and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com.

Memorials may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church online at https://secure.myvanco.com/L-Z224.

Lois was born July 5, 1930, in Vinton, Iowa, to Louis and Emma (Moeller) Fix. She was the youngest of three children with the older brothers Paul and John. Growing up on a farm near Atkins, Iowa, Lois was surrounded by animals with plenty of chores to do both inside and outside of the house. Early schooling consisted of single-room schoolhouses with multiple grades together. Lois was fortunate to spend time with her maternal grandparents, Peter and Anna Moeller, in Atkins, while attending parochial middle school during the week and returning home to the farm on the weekends. Family gatherings were especially important after church, for reunions, and at picnics after the harvest. These gatherings were memorable for the opportunities to visit with many aunts, uncles and cousins in the area. These experiences formed memorable bonds that continued throughout her life, making attending reunions a priority.

During high school, Lois focused on music and soon was playing as an organist in her church. She later took vocal lessons at Coe College on weekends and was eventually encouraged to start her college training in music at Coe College. Following a year at Coe, Lois then entered Valparaiso University, participating in the Valpo traveling chorale and training to teach music for the remainder of college. Following graduation, Lois accepted a position in Storm Lake, Iowa, to teach music. Lois was befriended by a fellow teacher, Marjorie Wunschel, and invited home for Thanksgiving dinner where she met Marjorie's younger brother Russell, who was a lawyer who had started a law practice in Carroll, Iowa.

Lois and Russell Wunschel were married on Aug. 14, 1955, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vinton, Iowa. They lived in Carroll starting in 1955. Throughout their lives together they traveled extensively, enjoyed golf and particularly enjoyed playing cards with the many friends they had in the Carroll, and later, Mesa, Arizona, areas. Rarely a week went by when there wasn't a game of bridge, five hundred or euchre to be played with friends, and later, children and grandchildren.

Lois was active at St. Paul Lutheran Church in the choir and a dedicated wife and mother to her five children. Lois remained dedicated to her immediate and extended family hosting holiday meals, attending reunions and being a resource for family genealogists.

Lois is survived by her five children and their spouses: daughter Dee Ann Wunschel (Richard Taylor) of Kona, Hawaii; son Steven (Beka) Wunschel of Modesto, California; daughter Lori (Blair) Elliott of Prairie Village, Kansas; son David (Sharon) Wunschel of Richland, Washington; and daughter Kristine (Joseph) Elliott of Dublin, Ireland; 14 grandchildren: Sarah Taylor of Scottsdale, Arizona; Austin Crouse of Tempe, Arizona; Morgan Panella of Modesto, California; Taylor Cox of Modesto; Alyssa Elliott of Orlando, Florida; Brendan Elliott of Prairie Village, Kansas, Andrea Elliott of Lawrence, Kansas; Madeline Wunschel of Modesto; Jacob Wunschel of Bozeman, Montana; Liza Wunschel of Modesto; Maya Wunschel of Richland, Washington; Finlay, Lyla and Harper Elliott of Dublin, Ireland; and six great-grandchildren: Carson Waid, Leo Cox, Sophia Cox, Hanna Cox, Caroline Panella and Camryn Panella.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers: Paul and John; husband: Russell; and numerous cousins and brothers- and sisters-in-law.