Our mother, Lois Lucille Ackerman (Simolke), born February 26, 1928, was welcomed home to heaven, after dealing with numerous health issues, on October 31, 2012. She began her long life as the twelfth child of a farming family, led by August and Jennie (Greichen) Simolke, in Eau Pleine, WI.

Mom is preceded in death by her parents , and her siblings and their spouses: Antone (Wanda) Simolke, Theodore Simolke, Doris Jozwiak (Steve), Anne Boland (Henry), Art (Wanda) Simolke, Thomas Simolke, Earl (Irene) Simolke, George Simolke, Arnold Simolke, Isadore Simolke, Jeanette (George) Putica, and William Golden. She is survived by her younger sister Joan Golden, two sisters-in-law, Josephine Simolke (Wojciechowski) and Emogene (Travelstead) Simolke, as well as her six children: Bill (Linda) Ackerman of AZ, Chris (Val) Ackerman of AZ, Tina (Andre) Visser of MI, Kurt Ackerman of CA, Lori Ackerman (Louis Arnone) of CA, and Carrie Ackerman (Kurt Guthzeit) of CA, and four grandchildren: Shaun and Tarnessa Visser, Carsten Ackerman, and Cade Guthzeit, along with numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Not afraid of hard work, Mom took to the city and began the varied jobs she would hold throughout her life. Military factory work during WW II, key-punch operating, owning a bar along with our dad, and various office positions kept her busy.

She found time to relax through her knitting and crochet projects. Everyone in the family has numerous pieces, including sweaters, hats, afghans, doilies, and her specialty of crocheted Barbie dresses and outfits. She was good in the kitchen and has passed recipes down to us, that we continue to enjoy. Each Christmas season, growing up, turned our house into a bakery with hundreds upon hundreds of cookies and sweets, filling every available counter and table with goodies, to be shared with family and friends.

At her last residence, Maple Woods Manor in Clio, Michigan, she was still making doilies and even taught one of the staff in the nursing home how to crochet. She was very blessed with a talent and shared it with others up ‘til the very end. Even though Mom lived there for only a short period of time at Maple Woods Manor, she will be missed by the staff that cared for her, and I would like to express on behalf of all her family our gratitude for the care and love and support they provided to her. The staff there treated our mom as if she was their own family member and that is and was such a great comfort to us all.