Lois Elizabeth Whitlatch

Lois Elizabeth Whitlatch, 82, of Tipton, entered eternal rest Thursday, November 24, 2016 at Cedar Manor Nursing Home. Family and friends may gather at Fry Funeral Home, Tipton for a time of visitation on Monday, November 28th from 4:00-7:00 pm. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, November 29th at 10:30 am, First United Church of Christ, Tipton, with Interment to follow at Red Oak Cemetery. Memorials in Lois's honor may be directed to Cedar Manor Nursing Home. Online condolences may be shared at www.fryfuneralhome.com. Lois was born in rural Bennett on May 23, 1934, to Leroy and Ruth (Miller) Wiese, the middle child of eight. Lois attended country schools until her father bought a school bus to transport the local children to Bennett School, where she graduated with the class of 1951. She married classmate Ron Hinrichs in 1953. Though the couple later divorced, they brought three children into the world: Cindy, Ron Jr. and Lisa. While working for the Tipton Ambulance Service, Lois met the young Chief of Police, Keith Whitlatch and they later married on August 22, 1975 at Red Oak Church. Lois and Keith announced the arrival of their daughter, Valerie during the 4th of July parade with a sign on Keith's squad car! Although a busy wife and working mother, Lois attended college at Coe College for two years on a part-time basis. Her resume is varied with positions from clerical at Bennett State Bank, Coe College, Cedar Manor, Tipton Community Schools and the Iowa Minimum Security Prison at Oakdale, to assisting with dental hygiene at the dental office of Dr. E.A, Lampe and babysitting for friends. Lois briefly relocated to North Carolina and Virginia, but she always considered Iowa her home. She lived by the Lion's motto: We Serve. While her children were young, she served as Girl and Cub Scout leader for their troops. She was a member of Tipton Ambulance Service for six and a half years and worked with MECCA's Tipton office. While volunteering for the Cedar County Historical Society, she assisted in writing two cookbooks. The Tipton Library Board was lucky to have her for six years, as was Business and Professional Women, for which she was District Director. During her time with the Stanwood Lions Club, Lois served twice as president, was District Exchange Student Chair, and District Diabetes Chair. She received the Melvin Jones Fellowship, The Warren Coleman Award, and in 2002 was named Lion of the Year for the Stanwood Lions Club. She was an avid gardener, too, even managing to pull weeds from her walker until very recently. She enjoyed activity, purpose and above all, family. Lois is survived by her husband, daughters Cindy (Steve) Arntzen of Menominie, WI; Lisa (Eric) Crawford of Bettendorf; Valerie (Todd) Clay of Anamosa; sisters Carolyn Bittinger and Joyce Meier; brothers Frank, Roger and Warren; seven grandchildren, Kate, Julie, Dustin, Evan, Shannon, Rhys and Kyra. She was preceded in death by her parents, son Ronald Hinrichs, Jr.; granddaughter Lorelei; brothers Harold and Walter.