Lois A. Eggers

Lois A. Eggers was born in Webster City, Iowa on December 15, 1925, to Fred and Augusta Eggers.  She was the youngest of 8 children.  Her oldest sister, Helen, was 10 years old when Lois was born.  Helen often told her daughter Sue, how Helen rocked baby Lois to sleep at night, so their mother could get some rest.

Lois spoke of growing up on a farm during the Depression.  She said they “didn’t have much money, but lots of fun.”

Lois attended St. Paul's Lutheran Parochial School and graduated from Webster City High School in 1943. During high school, Lois was an active participant with the Walther League at St. Paul's Lutheran Church and in the high school chorus.  Lois said that she drove a friend’s Harley Davidson into town and back when she was only 15 years old.  In Lois’ words, “I drove like an idiot”.

In 1947, Lois began work with the FBI as a clerk in Washington, D.C. In 1953, Lois was transferred to Ottawa, Canada to serve as a secretary in the FBI with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Two years later, she returned to Washington, D.C. and worked her way to become executive secretary to the associate director of the FBI.  Lois never married, but was engaged once until it became clear to Lois that she would have to quit her FBI job to marry her fiancé.

Through the years, Lois received many personally signed letters of condolence, congratulations, and promotion from J. Edgar Hoover. In 1963, Lois attended the funeral of President Kennedy.  In 1969, Lois attended the inauguration ceremonies for President Nixon. In 1972, Lois helped plan and coordinate the funeral service for J. Edgar Hoover.  In 1977, Lois spent a portion of the summer in England with nephew Donald and his wife Fran for the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.  She also regularly visited her siblings in California, Iowa, and New Mexico.

While in Washington, D.C., Lois' activities included sewing, volunteering at church, singing in the choir and playing handbells, and being secretary for the FBI Activities League. Lois said that on Sundays, she and a friend would have lots of fun in Washington D.C. by going to the nicest restaurants in town and sitting near people like the Attorney General.  She enjoyed visiting historical sites such as Monticello, Gettysburg, and the Eisenhower home in Pennsylvania.

Lois described herself as a “clothes horse”.  In D.C. she had a favorite shop on Constitution Avenue.  The dress shop owner wanted her to model on Saturdays, but Lois declined.  Lois said the shop owner used to call her each time the owner returned from New York with new clothes, so Lois could “try them on”.   Lois said she also enjoyed “poking around” in musty shops in Georgetown, looking at all the “old” stuff.  Lois said she traveled to Georgetown by riding streetcars.

Lois celebrated her 30th anniversary with the FBI in 1977 and retired from the FBI in 1980.   She moved to Omaha, Nebraska shortly afterwards to live with her sisters Evelyn and Gertrude. In Omaha, Lois was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church and became an active volunteer for the Lutheran Thrift Shop. While Lois had always enjoyed dancing, the three sisters enjoyed taking dancing lessons together at the old Fred Astaire Dance Studio on 72 ^nd Street.

After the death of her sisters Evelyn and Gertrude, Lois moved to Crown Pointe, where she lived for over 10 years.  Lois reminisced about the time she was crowned “Queen of Crown Pointe” and enjoyed the following dance party. While at Crown Pointe, Lois became a member of Pacific Hills Lutheran Church, where she enjoyed attending Advent and Lenten meals and services. Lois moved from Crown Pointe to the Hillcrest Cottages when a higher level of care was needed.

Lois’s hobbies included listening to music, dancing, and reading biographies and newspapers.

In recent years, as Lois’ memory declined, her faith remained accessible.  In the week before Lois’ death, she still responded to the Lord’s Prayer, and the 3 hymns in today’s service: “How Great Thou Art, “Jesus Loves Me” and “Amazing Grace.”

Lois was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Donald Eggers of North Hollywood, CA; her 6 sisters: Caroline Eggers (who died as an infant), Helen Chalfant of Webster City, IA, Evelyn Eggers of Omaha, NE, Gertrude Eggers of Webster City, IA, Eleanor Wehrman of Luzerne, IA, and Marian Jeske of Albuquerque, NM; three brothers-in-law Charles Chalfant of Webster City, IA, Duane Wehrman of Luzerne, IA, and Harold Jeske of Albuquerque, NM, Lois’  sister-in-law Leila Eggers of North Hollywood, CA, Lois' nephew Richard Chalfant of Fort Dodge, IA, Richard’s wife Jean Dwight Chalfant, Fran Czernocky Chalfant (nephew Donald’s wife), and her niece, Kathy Jeske Watson of Ridgecrest, CA.  Lois is survived by three generations of nieces and nephews.

Lois heard God’s words “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”      Matthew 11:28

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Lutheran Family Services to honor Lois.