Lois Doyle

Lois Helen (Burmeister) Doyle, 86, of 2522 South 9th Street, Sheboygan, passed away on Friday, October 25, 2013, at her home. Lois was born on January 12, 1927, in Madison, daughter of Ernest James and Kathryn Melissa (Doyle) Burmeister, sister of two brothers and four sisters, wife of Edward Arthur Doyle, and mother of seven children. She was the grandmother of thirty-four grandchildren, forty-eight great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. Lois worked as a dental assistant prior to her marriage. On November 27, 1948, she married Edward Arthur Doyle at St. James Catholic Church in Madison. Edward passed away on December 11, 2000. Lois was a member of St. Mary's Parish in Sheboygan Falls, St. Gregory Parish in St. Nazianz, All Saints Parish in Mesa, Arizona, and most recently, Blessed Trinity Parish in Sheboygan Falls. Living 22 years in Sheboygan Falls, she was active in Campfire Girls, Boy Scouts, and Christian Mother's Society of St. Mary's Catholic Church. Retirement years were spent on the hobby farm at Point Creek Road, Kiel, and their winter home in Mesa. Lois was a 1945 graduate of Madison West High School. Education was very important to Lois and she continued her education by taking classes at UW-Madison after high school while working, and later at UW-Sheboygan for many years. Lois always encouraged her grandchildren to do well in school and to continue learning. She helped many of her grandchildren with monetary gifts and moral support so they could continue their educations. Lois took painting classes also. She enjoyed doing pencil and oil paintings. She also liked to read and enjoyed learning new things through reading and researching. Grandma had a book on almost every subject one could think of. Lois and Ed had great fun traveling the countryside with their fifth-wheel. They enjoyed the scenery and the people they met at the campsites. When the grandchildren were young they looked forward to their annual camp out with grandma. Grandma, with grandpa assisting, would pack up the tents and camper and round up willing grandchildren to spend a week at Yogi Bear Campground. This event helped to forge a strong bond between cousins. Lois and Ed also spent time traveling to South America, Mexico, and Europe. They enjoyed experiencing different cultures and always brought home many pictures and memorabilia to share. Lois made her grandchildren a priority and took great joy in spending time with them and being part of their lives. The grandkids could always cheer grandma up, even if she was in discomfort. She would be complaining to one of her children about something bothering her and if a grandchild came to visit or called, she would set her woes aside and become energetic and in good humor. Lois' constant companion and best friend, the last thirteen years, has been her Misty Dog. Misty Dog has been a devoted and loving companion who has grown older with Lois. All through Lois' illness Misty stayed on the side of the bed keeping watch and giving comfort. Lois was very proud of her Irish/Scottish/German heritage. She was especially fond of her Irish and Scottish grandmothers and loved singing Celtic songs and celebrating St. Patrick's Day. Lois was a skilled pianist and was happy playing her piano and singing. As a child, she played the violin and piano. She also had a lovely singing voice and enjoyed listening to the young children sing. Going to visit grandma and getting to "pound" on the piano was a great joy of the grand and great-grandchildren. Under grandma's direction, a lot of the "pounding" became playing pleasant to listen to. Lois had a deep love of the outdoors. She belonged to various garden clubs for many years. She was a Master Gardner and served as a landscape design critic for the State Garden Club in Wisconsin. She loved whistling along to the many canaries she raised. Lois had always had an extensive vegetable garden and numerous flower gardens at all of her residences. All of the children, and eventually grandchildren, learned how to fish, camp, canoe, plant and harvest, how to identify insects, plants, and flowers, ride a horse, care for and raise chickens, horses, cats, dogs, a calf, a small mean bull, and various wildlife from Grandma Doyle. Over the years they also did many creative crafts with grandma. Antiquing, rummage sales, and flea markets were a love of Lois'. Trips to visit adult children would take longer than usual because she stopped at every rummage sale along the way! Lois had collected many lovely items from her love of antique buying, and she and Ed had great fun selling things she had collected at flea markets. Many times the children or grandchildren were taken along as helpers and learned how to organize, value items, how to make change, and customer service skills. Lois is survived by her three daughters, Kitty Ann (James) Wickert of Sheboygan, Danie Ann (Kent) Wilson of Sheboygan, and Sheila Ann Doyle-Hegge (David Hegge) of Dakota, MN; her four sons, Dennis O'Shea (Kathy)Doyle of Sheboygan, Kerry O'Neil (Marcia) Doyle of Sheboygan, Shon O'Hara Doyle (Kathryn Sexnauer) of Pawnee, IL, and Terence O'Kelly Doyle of Sheboygan Falls. 32 grandchildren, 48 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild, Rebecah Leah Wickert-Carini (David Carini) and children, Jakob Mitchell Cain, Kyle David, and Sarah Giovanna; Erin Leah (Daniel) Moericke and children, Lacey Christina (Jeremy Cobb) and son, Charles Daniel, Morgan Elizabeth, Hunter Quinn, Ciara Grace, and Olivia Danielle; Diana Marie (Jason) Schaefer, and sons, Ocean Cian and Lucian Rain; Nicole Marie (Eric) Paarmann and children, Alaina Marie and Eric Alan Jr.; David Alan Fonstad and Children, Johnathon Orian, Benjamin James, and Grace Louise; Jennifer Lynne (Brett) Salm and children, Cassidy Michael and Ashlyn Ryan; Kimberly Lynn (Wess) Mensching; Shane Michael (Patricia) Sitzman and children, Koen Nahuel, Emerson Nahuel, and Aislinn Rocio; John Peter O'Neil (Gwen) Doyle and children, Christian James O'Neil, Evelyn Elizabeth O'Neil, Eleanor Ann O'Neil, and Camilla Rose O'Neil; Crystal Doyle Hegge (Will Hesch) and children, Iris Doyle, Quentin David, and Athena Rose; Rose Ellen O'Neil (Nicholas) Sloat and daughter, Abigail Loraine; Michelle Marie (James Jr.) Markevitch and children, Teaghan Elizabeth, Payton Marie, and Lauren Victoria; Brandon O'Shea Doyle (Alisha Grabowski) and children, Ryan O'Shea and Eli O'Shea; Jordan James (Anna) Wickert and children, Fernando, Lyndsey Michelle, Kaydence Branne, and Katelynn Danielle; Jonathan Edward Wickert; Leah Ceee O'Neil (Donald) Boomsma and son, Elam Donald; AmberJean Hegge (August Van Art); George Christian O'Neil (Molly) Doyle; Shon O'Hara II and children, Madison Ryann and Shon O'Hara III; Dustin O'Shea Doyle and son, Nevan O'Shea; Erick Evan Hegge; Kerry O'Neil Doyle; Devin John Doyle; Chelsea Marie (Curtis) Hanson; John Peter O'Shea Doyle (Jennifer Beilfuss) and children, Zaylie Mariah-Rose and Jameson Jax O'Shea; Casey Alan (Celene) Wilson and daughter, Avery; Corey Andrew (Jennifer) Wilson and children, Mason James, Andrew Lee, and Jack Howard; Kenneth James Wilson; Kimberly Frances (Shawn Uldridge) Lowery; and Jesse Jay Doyle. Lois is also survived by one sister, Kathryn (A. James) Chitwood of Madison; sisters-in-law, Lorraine Burmeister of Granger, IN, Margaret Burmeister of Oregon, WI, Rosemary (Alphonse) Gion of Madison, Elaine Doyle of Madison, and Margaret (Margo) McKnight of Madison; and a brother-in-law, John Doyle of Belleville. Lois was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Edward Arthur Doyle, her parents, Ernest J. and Kathryn M. Burmeister, sisters, Mary Jo Blaschka, Elaine Henry, and Margaret (Margie) Imberg, brothers, Ernest R. Burmeister and James E. Burmeister , and brothers-in-law, Robert Doyle, William Doyle, Gerald McKnight, Harold Henry, and sisters-in-law, Donna Doyle and Marlene Doyle. She is also preceded in death by her grandsons, Scott Alan Sitzman and Ryan O'Shea Doyle. A Mass of Christian Burial to celebrate Lois' life will take place at 10:30 am on Saturday, November 2, 2013, at Blessed Trinity Parish in Sheboygan Falls with Rev. Dan Lasecki officiating. Burial will take place in St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Sheboygan Falls. Relatives and friends may call at the Wenig Funeral Home in Sheboygan Falls on Friday from 5:00 until 7:00 pm and on Saturday at the church from 9:30 am until the time of Mass. A memorial fund has been established in Lois' name. For online condolences and additional information please visit www.wenigfuneralhome.com The staff of the Wenig Funeral Home of Sheboygan Falls (920-467-3431) is assisting Lois' family with arrangements.Reception:Blessed Trinity Parish327 Giddings AvenueSheboygan Falls, WI 53085

Visitation

Friday, November 1, 2013 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Wenig Funeral Home - Sheboygan Falls
711 Broadway Sheboygan Falls 53085, United States

Visitation

Saturday, November 2, 2013 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Blessed Trinity Parish
327 Giddings Avenue Sheboygan Falls 53085, United States

Service

Saturday, November 2, 2013 10:30 AM
Blessed Trinity Parish
327 Giddings Avenue Sheboygan Falls 53085, United States