Lois M. Andersen

Lois Marie (Gottschalk) Andersen was born February 28, 1935 to Arthur C. and Helen Selma (Hahn) Gottschalk in Waterloo, (Dodge County) Wisconsin. She was baptized at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Waterloo. She and her brothers, Henry and Robert, and one sister, Arlene, grew up on the farm in Portland, Wisconsin. She attended elementary country school in Portland, and St. John’s Parochial School in Waterloo. A self-proclaimed “Tom Boy”, she and her cousin, Lillian, each captained Competing Boys softball teams before graduating. She graduated from Waterloo High School with the Class of 1952.  She went on to Vocational School for bookkeeping.

Lois was employed at Ford garage in Waterloo, and also worked at the RayoVac company, in Madison. She also helped her parents on the farm, where she was born.

Lois met and married, Robert “Bob” Andersen, of Sparta. Considerable credit for this pairing can be given to great friends, Dick and Em Axelsen; as both Lois and Bob were 30, at the time. Each of them opined that they saved each other. Lois and Bob were members of the Cataract Methodist Church in Cataract.

Life on the farm was good, with Lois raising the calves. She stayed active in community affairs. She was the Town Clerk for the Town of New Lyme from 1977 to 2013. She also did the accounting duties for Erv’s Sparta Rural Fire District from 1973 to 2005. After leaving that job, she went on to work in Sparta, at the ASCS (Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation Service), because of her interest in the agency and her experience farming. She was privileged to be elected as a County Community Committee member of ASCS; a position she held from 1978-1989; then again from 1991-2006. She had the honor of being the first lady in the state to be elected Chairperson of a county ASCS Community Committee.

Both Lois and Bob considered Karl and Cindy Merow their kids, and their children, as grandkids. Lois was a Godmother to Karl, and Cindy’s daughter, Amanda. Karl worked for Lois and Bob on the farm for many years, until he and Cindy purchased the farm in 2003. Lois’ dream came true when she and Bob moved into their new house, south of the farm, in November 2000.

Lois passed from her happy life on Thursday, September 25, 2025 at Pine View Terrace, in Black River Falls.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Helen (Hahn) Gottschalk; brother, Henry; sister-in-law, June Gottschalk; and sister, Arlene (Toney) Gasson Gottschalk.

Lois is survived by her husband, Robert Andersen; brother, Bob Gottschalk; as well as nieces and nephews.

A Memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, October 1, 2025 at Cataract United Methodist Church, in Cataract, with Reverend Loretta Waughtal officiating. Burial will be in Cataract Cemetery, following the service.

A visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. on Wednesday, at the church.

Family and friends are invited to a luncheon, following the burial at Cataract Sportsman’s Club, in Cataract.

Online condolences may be offered at www.schanhoferfh.com. Memorials may be offered to Cataract First Responders, Cataract United Methodist Church, or the Sparta Rural Fire District 3.

Lanham-Schanhofer Funeral Home and Cremation, Sparta, is assisting the family with arrangements.

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