Lois Joanne Pempsell

Lois “Pidge” was the first-born child of three, born on January 1st, 1936, in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Joseph and Ruth Tiber. She attended Catholic schools throughout her childhood and lived a modest post-depression life. Later, she enjoyed telling many colorful and interesting stories from this period in her life. After graduating high school, she served in the United States Army from 1954 to 1957. Lois was deployed oversees as an army medic to Okinawa. Upon returning to Minneapolis, she attended two years of business college. From 1975 to 1981, she continued her service with the army reserves where she earned her highest rank of Sargent first class.

Lois had three children, Michelle, Michael, and Marleah and in 1971, she and her family moved across the country to North Richland Hills, Texas, where she lived in the same house for over 50 years. Michelle, Mike, and Marleah thought of her not only as their mom, but also as a friend. They each knew they could go to her for anything from wise advice to comfort, support and help in any situation. Her children said she was a Godly woman, a calm, patient, generous, funny, and loving mother. Lois’s sense of humor and laugh were contagious. She loved to laugh at herself just as much as she enjoyed poking fun at others. Lois had an amazing command of language which was often displayed in her quick-witted sense of humor.
As a mother, she was the strongest woman they knew. She was the matriarch of a close-knit family as displayed by her children always living within 10 miles from her. Each of them had a unique, special relationship and bond with their mom.

In 1985, she married the love of her life and best friend, John Pempsell. The couple were rarely seen apart for almost 37 years. Their deep love and devotion were an inspiration to all that knew them.

Lois had 2 grandchildren, Matthew and Sarah that were her pride and joy. They had an unbreakable and unique bond; one that knew no age. Sarah describes her as her “soulmate” and always joked that she would be exactly like Gramoo one day - a joke that would soon become a hope and prayer. They loved to laugh, talk, play, act silly, and joke with each other. Matt and Sarah spoke with their Gramoo like they were talking with a friend, where they felt safe in sharing their deepest thoughts. They knew they were unconditionally loved. Papa and Gramoo visited their grandchildren at least weekly during their entire childhood. The family would have regular Friday Night Supper Club. In the words of her granddaughter, Sarah, and ones in which they all feel, “A piece of my heart went to heaven. “Gramoo” was strong, faithful, honest, quick-witted, and quietly empowering. Her level of honesty was an ongoing joke in our sensitive family as she was incapable of sugar-coating anything. She took every opportunity to remind her family how much she loved us. Gramoo loved to laugh, and her smile will always be how I remember her.” She was fiercely protective over her grandchildren, as well as her precious husband and children.

John and Lois enjoyed all aspects of life together. Sitting on the front porch feeding the squirrels and singing to the birds was a daily ritual. When you called one of them on the phone, you knew the other was (not so) quietly listening on the other line. They had so much fun ballroom dancing, especially at the monthly formal balls they attended for many years. Traveling all over the country was another one of their favorite things to do. At least yearly, with little planning they would head off in their van on a three-to-four-week journey and “play it by ear”. They would stop only to “see the sights and/or when they got tired.” They traveled coast to coast, from Texas to Canada, as well as the yearly trek to Minnesota where they would visit friends and relatives. From there, they would continue their journey on to Wisconsin to attend the family reunion held at the 150+ year old family farm.
John and Lois were completely inseparable, and they lovingly took such good care of each other.

Volunteering, serving and helping people were also extremely important to this Christian couple. John and Lois served at St. John’s Catholic Church and school. They were involved with various charities and took care of their grandchildren as much as possible.

Lois was extremely talented in many areas. She had a lifelong passion for music. She was the director of music and cantored at St John’s Catholic Church for 40 years. Learning at a young age to play the piano by ear, she continued to play almost every day of her life.

Genealogy was also one of Lois’s passions. As children, Michelle, Mike, and Mar remember that in their family travels they stopped at graveyards to look for family names. In the hotels they stayed in, she would search the phone book for the same. She found many distant relatives. When she got her computer, things were made easier as she discovered ancestry.com. She has recorded family dated back to the 1500’s and 1600’s.

The couple had a very active social life and cherished time spent with friends. Not only was Lois supportive of her family, but also of her beloved friends.
Spending a day at Winstar Casino with her family (which included her best friend, Kay Yager) were some of her most cherished times.

Most of all, Lois loved her family and instilled strong Christian morals and values in her children and grandchildren.

Although Lois will be greatly missed, we rejoice in the opportunity to celebrate her life and the vast impact she made on all. We find comfort and peace knowing she is now in heaven with our Lord and Savior and reunited with loved ones who passed before her.

Lois Pempsell: faithful Christian, cherished wife, loving mother, adored grandmother, caring cousin, aunt, and sister. She is survived by her husband, John Pempsell, children, Michelle Lindsey, Michael Tousignant, and Marleah Tousignant, grandchildren, Matt Lindsey and wife, Kelsey Lindsey, Sarah Lindsey and fiancé Reece Hageman, Godson, Matthew Handler, sister, Louella Schany, niece, Denise Chaudhary, and nephew, Jeffrey Tiber.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., Tuesday, October 25, 2022 at Lucas Funeral Home in Hurst. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 A.M. on Wednesday, October 26, 2022 at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church in North Richland Hills followed by interment at Bluebonnet Hills Memorial Park in Colleyville.

Memorial contributions may be made in Lois’s memory to:
St. John the Apostle School (2022 National Blue Ribbon School)
7421 Glenview Drive, Richland Hills, Texas
Or click on the following link:
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=L43HNDX6GJWD2

Visitation: 6:00 - 8:00 pm on Tuesday, October 25
Lucas Funeral Home - 1321 Precinct Line Road, Hurst, Texas 76053

Funeral Mass: 10:30 am on Wednesday, October 26
St. John’s Catholic Church - 7341 Glenview Drive, North Richland Hills, Texas 76180

Burial will follow at
Bluebonnet Cemetery - 5725 Colleyville Blvd, Colleyville, TX 76034