Lois E. Stammen, age 100, born June 12, 1922, in New Bremen, Ohio, to Irwin & Alma Westerbeck, died February 7, 2023, at the Hospice of Central Ohio, Selma Markowitz Inpatient Care Center, in Newark, Ohio, after a brief illness.

Lois was born in New Bremen, Ohio, and grew up with her siblings on three different family farms in Auglaize County. Lois' early farm life was challenging, but she was supported by a loving family. Lois attended the Poppe School, a one-room rural schoolhouse for grades one through eight. She graduated from New Bremen High School in 1940 and Wayne University of Beauty Culture in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1941. She was a determined and dedicated student, passed the required state board exams, and earned her Ohio Cosmetologist License. Lois continued that diligent work effort throughout her entire career. After achieving her cosmetologist certification, she made a momentous decision that would eventually enable the creation of her family. In 1941, Lois secured her first employment in the town of St. Henry, Ohio. It was a position in Mary (Romer) Borger's beauty shop, less than a block from the Catholic Church in the center of town. Early in her new job, she met many new friends, including (her words) "a handsome young man, Linus Lammers".

During World War II, while Liny served in the U. S. Navy, Lois lived with a group of women friends and worked at a beauty shop in Dayton, Ohio. It was during this time that Lois carefully made the decision to join the Catholic Church. Lois and Linus were married in 1946 and raised their active family on the 'Lammers ponds' property in St. Henry, Ohio. Lois owned and operated the successful Lois' Beauty Shop in St. Henry for nearly 30 years, while also serving as the strong matriarch of a busy family of four boys and one daughter. In later years, visits to grandma's house and the Lammers' ponds became very special treats for her beloved grandchildren.

After Linus' passing, Lois married Alfons Stammen in 1984. Living in North Star, Ohio, Al & Lois enjoyed 28 years together, traveled extensively, and relished an active life with their large, combined families. They were also involved in numerous church and social activities with friends and neighbors. Lois was a fierce personal advocate for mental health and addiction recovery, studying all she could about mental illness, and the diseases of schizophrenia and alcoholism. She joined the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and other community groups, attended meetings, and listened to others share stories of dealing with these challenging diseases. With Lois' leadership, her circle of family and friends learned helpful ways to address the family diseases of mental illness and addiction. Lois always called Ohio her home. After living in New Bremen, Dayton, St. Henry, and North Star, Lois resided in Newark for the last eight and a half years. The family is grateful for the care Lois received at the Sharonbrooke Assisted Living Center during the final years of her long and fruitful life.

Lois is survived by sons James (Bea) of Omaha, Nebraska, William (Debbie) of Washington, D.C., and Mark (Michelle) of Laguna Hills, California; a daughter, Connie (Lammers) Bremer, of Granville, Ohio; daughter-in-law, Margaret (Moorman) Lammers; stepsons, Marvin (Millie), Howard (Ann), & Ken (Ann) Stammen, and stepdaughter Mary Ann (Steve) Badgett. Grandma Lois was deeply loved by fourteen grandchildren: John (Karen), Mike (Julie), Doug, Andrew (Mollie), Megan (Ned), Philip (Lillian), Steven (Danielle); Jonathan, Christian, and Daisy Lammers; Katie (Dale) Gallion, Amy (Adam) Ayers, Nate (Ricky) and Maddie (Cody, fiancé) Bremer. Lois cherished her great-grandchildren: Claire, Anna, Luke, Adelaide, Jackson, & Norah Lammers; Eamon & Henry Folkerth; Ingrid, Miriam, Rosemary, Cora, Elise, & Josephine Lammers, Tinsleigh & Reilly Trierweiler; Emlyn, Alexandra, & Benjamin Gallion; and Aidan & Addison Ayers. Lois was especially grateful for the love and support of her many Stammen step-grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. As the last surviving matriarch of the Lammers and Westerbeck families, Lois was greatly admired and loved by many nieces, nephews, their families, and close friends.

Preceded in death were her husband, Linus Lammers; husband, Al Stammen; son, Daniel Lammers; stepchildren, Mike and Rosie Stammen; daughter-in-law, Amy Lammers; grandson, Joseph Lammers; brothers John and Kenneth Westerbeck; sister Marjory (Westerbeck) Schmidt; parents, Irwin & Alma (Heil) Westerbeck; parents-in-law, Bernard & Catherine (Knapke) Lammers; and several brothers-in-law & sisters-in-law.

Memorial donations can be made, in Lois Stammen's name, to the Hospice of Central Ohio, 2269 Cherry Valley Rd, Newark, Ohio, 43055; or the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 1225 Dublin Rd, Suite 210, Columbus, Ohio, 43215.

A wake service and viewing will be held on Sunday, February 12, at the Hogenkamp Funeral Home in St. Henry, Ohio, from 1 to 5 p.m.

Viewing will also occur from 9 to 10 a.m. prior to the Mass of Christian Burial, scheduled for Monday, February 13 at 10:30 a.m. at the St. Henry Catholic Church. A luncheon for family and friends will follow the church service. Burial will occur at a later date in the St. Henry Catholic Cemetery.

Condolences may be sent to the Lois Stammen Family, in care of N.J. Hogenkamp Sons Funeral Home, 221 East Main Street, St. Henry, Ohio 45883 or online at www.hogenkampfh.com. We invite family and friends to share memories of Lois, her remarkable life, and your special times with our family at the Lammers' home and ponds property or Lois & Al Stammen's North Star residence.