Lois Jean McAtee was born June 24,1936, in Omaha, NE, to Henry ‘Hank’ and Gwendolyn Alcorn Knigge. She passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on July 14, 2024.
She spent her childhood years in Omaha, later moving to Adel, where she met Dean, the love of her life. Lois spent her senior year of high school in Cedar Rapids and graduated near the top of her class from Cedar Rapids Roosevelt High School in 1954. On September 1, 1956, after a six-year courtship, Lois married F. Dean McAtee in Cedar Rapids.
They were later blessed with four wonderful daughters.
Lois was a gifted vocalist and a longtime advocate for music. She shared her talent by serving as a choir director at Central Christian Church and First Presbyterian Church in Jefferson. She sang for weddings (including each of her daughter’s weddings) and for loved one’s funerals.
Lois had a passion for genealogy. Gardening was also one of her many passions. Lois had radiant perennial gardens showcasing hundreds of flowering plants and hostas. For several years, she partnered with elderly neighbor Al Ladman to do vegetable gardening. She put the girls to work learning all aspects of growing vegetables. Lois believed in introducing her girls to everything possible including catching crawdads and night crawlers, fishing, and hunting morel mushrooms, often with Ladman as the lead. She made sure to involve her girls in Campfire, 4-H, piano, band, church choir, guitar lessons, traveling the USA and even abroad, swimming and lake life at Lake Panorama.
Lois spent time with local clubs and groups including PEO Chapter CZ, Eastern Star, Daughter of the American Revolution (D.A.R.), Beta Tau Delta (and led one of the phenomenal charity balls), bridge clubs, and enjoyed being in the cast of some incredible community plays and musicals. Most recently, she joined the ‘Why Not Us’ group to rejuvenate the downtown Centennial Block. She was instrumental in sharing historical research and artifacts she had collected to acquire National Historical Registry status for the Centennial.
Lois is survived by her daughters Laurie Ann (John) Wahl of Rockwell City, Sue AnnKenkel of Metamora, MI, Jean Ann (Don) Feldmann of Jefferson, and Dee Ann (Jeff) Valles of Woodridge, IL; grandchildren Zachary (Lindsey) Wahl and Michael (Miranda) Wahl, Kyle (Ally) Kenkel, Cameron (Brooke) Kenkel, and Conner Kenkel, Benjamin Feldmann and Maggie (Tate) Feldmann Klocke, Alex (Alyssa) Wagley and Elyse Wagley, and Miles, Robert and Kody Valles; great-grandchildren Makenzie, Maxton, Kailer, Elliana, Madalynn and Evelyn Wahl, and baby Kenkel and baby Wagley on the way. She is also survived by her sister Linda (Bill) Flynn; sister-in-law Nancy Knigge; several nieces and nephews; and her treasured furry friends Miss Kitty and Baby Haze.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Dean McAtee; parents Henry and Gwendolyn Knigge; brother, James Knigge; niece Cari Feldmann; in-laws Maggie and Dewey McAtee; and Dean’s six siblings.
Special appreciation is given to her loving caretakers Mel, Jenna, Deana, Lana and Stephanie, the nurturing staff at GCMC and Unity Point Hospice.
Lois chose to have her body donated to science research so she could continue to help the education of future medical professionals. Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. A private family service will be held at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to Greene County Medical Center, Thomas Jefferson Gardens or the Main Street Planter/Design Committee, all in Jefferson.
