Obituary of Lois A. McMahon

Lois A. McMahon, age 83, of Wisconsin Rapids, died Thursday, April 5, 2018 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.

Lois was born August 18, 1934 on the family farm in Wyocena, WI to Forest and Helen (Hays) Purves Sr.  She grew up in Portage, WI and graduated from Portage High School.  It was in high school that Lois met her future husband, Robert McMahon.  Lois and Robert were married on September 7, 1954.  They were blessed with 63 years of marriage and three children: Janet, Daniel and Nancy.

Lois was a full-time homemaker until her children were junior high school age, when she returned to school and obtained an Associates Degree in accounting.  She worked as an accounting clerk at Bardole and Wolfe CPAs in Wisconsin Rapids until her official retirement in 2010, and continued working with clients until age 78.

Lois treasured time spent with her family, especially family “Days at the Farm” picnicking, swimming in the pond, and four-wheeling.  She was known for her hospitality and no visitor would ever go away hungry.  Lois enjoyed horses and trail riding.  She was a member and past treasurer of the Central Sands Harness Club.  Lois was a devoted member of “The Card Club” for over 50 years and a member of the “Women of Wall Street” investing club of central Wisconsin.  She enjoyed knitting, sewing and crocheting as well as rubber stamping cards.  Lois was a devoted Green Bay Packer and Brett Favre fan, no matter which team he played for. Lois cared about the direction of our country, writing letters to state and federal elected representatives about issues that concerned her, and was taking a correspondence course to improve her knowledge of the U.S. Constitution.

Lois is survived by her husband, Robert; three children: Janet (Eric) Forton of Wisconsin Rapids, Daniel McMahon of Lakeville, MN, and Nancy (Mike) Baierl of Wisconsin Rapids; 5 grandchildren: Nick (Megan) Baierl of Sun Prairie, WI, Alyssa McMahon (Jake) Olson of Minneapolis, MN, Christopher Baierl (fiancé Grace) of Fairbanks, AK, James McMahon of Park City, UT, and Gina Baierl of Wisconsin Rapids; and one brother, Harlan (Pat) Purves of West Milton, OH.  She is preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Wayne Purves and Forest Purves Jr.

Services will be at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 14, 2018 at Herman-Taylor Funeral Home in Wisconsin Rapids.  Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until the time of services on Saturday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be designated to the Incourage Community Foundation, 478 E Grand Ave., Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494.