January 16, 2020 at 2:46 p.m.
Lois Sprain
Lois Sprain
Lois was born to Lawrence and Edith (Warmbold) Moran on June 2, 1934, in Robbinsdale, Minnesota. She met her only love, Marlowe Sprain, while both were attending Gustavus Adolphus College. They married on August 22, 1956, and the young couple lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, while Marlowe finished dental school and Lois taught kindergarten. Eventually, they settled permanently in Marlowe's hometown of Chisago City, Minnesota. Both were active members of the community and Zion Lutheran Church.
In Chisago City, Lois continued her teaching career at Chisago Lakes School District as a 5th grade team teacher, until her retirement. She loved teaching social studies, science, and literature, but is most remembered for her mini-units where she taught Ukrainian egg painting, sewing (inspiring students in this unit to later become surgeons), and creative story telling. She began an afternoon chess club and traveled with participants to weekend tournaments.
As soon as school was out in the spring, the camper was packed and ready to head as far as Canada and Northern Minnesota. Lois especially enjoyed camping as family and friends joined for fishing, outdoor cooking, relaxing around the campfire, and lots of cards and dominoes. Blueberry, raspberry, and chokecherry seasons meant afternoons of picking berries for jams and syrups. Additionally, you could always find the grandchildren in their camper enjoying homemade cookies, donuts, and other goodies.
Though Marlowe had to teach her how to cook noodles when they were first wed, her baking and canning skills were unmatched. Everyone enjoyed her chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies. Late summer meant days canning dill pickles, beets, and tomatoes. During the holiday season, she took great pride in her vast selection of homemade Christmas cookies and treats, including the long-held tradition of the Scandinavian Snip Candy Making Party. Lois's other great passions included agate hunting, crossword puzzles, sewing and knitting, gardening, and teaching her grandchildren to fish for sunnies off their dock on Green Lake. She was an amazing mother, grandmother and teacher.
She is survived by her three children, Vikki (Jerry) Getchell of Marine on St. Croix; Shelly Sprain of Chisago City, and Michael (Patty) Sprain of Houston, TX, as well as her seven dear-to-her-heart grandchildren. Lois was preceded in death by her husband Marlowe, her brother Lawrence, and her parents. Additionally, she will be deeply missed by a host of life-long friends in the Chisago Lakes community.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 18, 2020 at Zion Lutheran Church in Chisago City. Visitation will take place one hour prior to service at church on Saturday, April 18. Interment will follow the service at Chisago Memorial Park. Memorials may be given to Zion Lutheran Church in Chisago City.
Arrangements are by Grandstrand Funeral Home in Lindstrom. www.grand strandfh.com
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