Funeral Services for Lois Van Sickle, 84, of Gainesville, Florida, formerly of Jefferson, will be 10:00 am Saturday, August 7, 2010 at Slininger-Rossow Funeral Home in Jefferson.  Interment will be in the Richland Township Cemetery, Guthrie County, Iowa.  Visitation with the family will be Friday, August 6, 2010 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Slininger-Rossow Funeral Home in Jefferson.

Lois May VanSickle passed away on August 3, 2010 at the Emeritus Assisted Living Facility in Gainesville, Florida. Lois was born on May 28, 1926 in Jamaica, Iowa to Harry and Viola Godwin, one of 14 children. She grew up near Panora, Iowa and married Carl Junior VanSickle on February 24, 1947 in Bagley, Iowa. Lois and Carl had 3 children, Billy (Mickey), Connie Frankhouser (Donald) and John (Kristen). Together, Lois was blessed with 11 grandchildren and many great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by Carl, Billy and Connie.

Lois’ husband Carl was a farmer near Jefferson, Iowa and Lois served many capacities in the community. She began her professional career as the cook for the local Cooper Community School, and then moved on to serve as the dietician for the Greene County Hospital. She became the Administrator of the Jefferson Manor retirement home when it first opened in 1968 and then became the Administrator of the Perry Rowley Masonic Nursing Home in 1978 where she served in that capacity before retiring in 1988. She also served as President of the Iowa Nursing Home Administrators Association.

 Lois and Carl retired within the Jefferson Community for several years before Carl passed away on August 30, 2002. They loved spending time with their children and grandchildren. Lois moved to Gainesville, Florida in 2004 to be near her son John.

Lois was a natural caregiver. Not only did she care for the residents of her nursing homes, she helped to care for her ailing daughter Connie before her death in 2001 and her ailing husband Carl before his death in 2002. She was loved by many and returned her love many times over. She will always be remembered because when someone told her they loved her, she would always respond “I love you most.” She meant it.