Loving daughter, wife, mother and grandmother, Lois Marie (Werderman) Schenk, age 92, of Ann Arbor, MI, passed away peacefully Sunday April 24, 2022, at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital surrounded by family. Lois was born January 7, 1930, in Detroit, MI to Howard and Emilie (nee Yarchow) Werderman. Lois grew up in Detroit, not far from the Ambassador Bridge, and graduated from Western High School. Lois loved her grandparents’ farm in Romeo, MI and always wanted to live on a farm. She met her husband at a gathering in Freedom Township hosted by his grandmother, Lydia Heller.
Lois married Albert Ellsworth Schenk on June 2, 1950, in Detroit, MI at Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church. Albert passed away in 2000. They were married 50 years. She and Albert bought the Schaible farm across the street from Albert’s parents’ farm. Lois raised her family and lived for 72 years on her farm.
She is survived by her children: Diane, Richard (Jill), Elaine (Michael) Stone, Janet Pyle, and Karl (Theresa). Lois was blessed with grandchildren: Jacob and Christopher Schenk, Suzanne (Brandon) Loutzenhiser, Carl Pyle, Karlee Schenk, and great-granddaughter, Charlotte Schenk, step-grandchildren, Sarah and Shawn Stanley, Paul Stone, and step-great-grandchildren Maximus, Michael, and Maxwell Stone, and Abby and Christopher Stanley. Lois was predeceased by her husband, her infant son, Charles, son-in-law, Robert Pyle, her parents, her step-grandson, Matthew Stone, and her brother, Donald.
Lois was confirmed, married, and raised her children in the Lutheran faith. She was a life-long member of Zion Lutheran Church in Chelsea, MI, where she was a member of the quilting group for many decades. She was an active member of the Rogers Corners Ladies Extension Group and Farm Bureau for many decades. Lois enjoyed her family, friends, sewing, baking, cards, and church. She had a gentle, kind, and loving soul. She was a blessing to everyone she met.
Funeral services will be Friday, April 29, 2022 at 11:00 a.m., at Zion Lutheran Church in Chelsea. Burial will follow at Zion Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home in Chelsea on Thursday afternoon from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., as well as at the church on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until the hour of the service.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to Zion Lutheran Church, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Kidney Foundation of Michigan.
