Lois L. Yantz

Lois Lorene (Seggerman) Yantz was born November 21st, 1933. Her parents were Henry and Rena (Junker) Seggerman. Lois attended rural school District #55 through the 8th grade. She and her sister, Lila, were of great help to their parents on the family farm, especially during the time her brother, Marvin, served in the U. S. Army. The lack of a formal High School education did not hold Lois back, as she was an avid reader, and was always curious to learn. Later in life, she easily achieved her General Education Degree (GED), an accomplishment she was quite proud of.
Lois met her husband, Robert Yantz, who had also been drafted into military service, when he and Marvin shared transportation to and from basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Many letters were sent to and from Korea, as the two fell deeply in love.
Robert and Lois were joined in marriage on May 2nd, 1954. The young couple made their life together on the Yantz family farm southeast of Daykin. Like her father’s farm, there were dairy cattle, chickens and hogs to attend to, along with all the related row crop and hay farming activities. Lois and Robert were a wonderful team, sharing all the good times and bad times with equal love and support. They welcomed their first child, Lori, into the family on October 29th, 1956. Their second child, Ronald, was born January 15th, 1960.
Somehow, Lois found the time and energy to work at various jobs off the farm. She worked with her uncle, Alvin Junker, during busy times at the Fairbury Locker, gaining experience in meat cutting and wrapping. She later turned that experience into a full-time job at the Daykin Locker, where she worked for several years. She then went to work for the Swingsters garment factory in Fairbury, where her duties included fabric pattern lay-up and cutting. She worked at Swingsters until the factory was closed.
Even with all the demands of raising a family on a dairy farm, and working off the farm, Lois found time for fun and fulfilling activities. She was an active member of the First United Presbyterian Church in Fairbury, serving as a Deacon, and helping with many church activities. She was a member of the Women’s Fast-Pitch softball team for the village of Western, and many summer evenings in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s were enjoyed on the ball field. Robert and Lois went on several vacation trips together, most of which were sponsored by the Fairbury State Bank. Among their most memorable were a trip to Alaska and rafting down the Colorado River. They thoroughly enjoyed going on trips with the friends they had made. Robert and Lois also enjoyed Square Dancing as members of the Geneva Curly Q’s, with many winter weekends seeing them carpooling with neighbors and friends to a dance.
Lois loved to entertain family and friends with music, and was an avid player of both the accordion and the piano. She played many songs by memory, and could play new songs “by ear”. Later, Robert purchased an electric piano “Fun Machine” for Lois, which they had seen demonstrated at the Nebraska State Fair. Lois had sat down at “Fun Machine” during the demonstration, and played for quite a while, all to the enjoyment of the nearby crowds. That “Fun Machine” became her musical instrument of choice, and was carried to all sorts of local gatherings for many years.
Robert and Lois moved to Fairbury in 1992, and, after her job at Swingsters ended, they both began doing part time custodial work at Maatsch’s Food Shop. As their health began to decline, they stopped working, and eventually moved to Cedarwood Assisted Living. The couple was inseparable, and enjoyed their life together to its fullest.
Lois was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Rena Seggerman; her sister Lila and husband Alfred Schoen; and her brother Marvin and wife Eleanor Seggerman. She is survived by her husband of over 65 years, Robert Yantz, and their children, Lori and Ron, as well as several Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren.

Services will be Monday, January 20, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. at the Presbyterian Church in Fairbury. The family will greet friends Sunday afternoon from 2 – 4 at the funeral home.  Memorials have been established to the Family's Choice. Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. www.gerdesmeyerfh.com