Obit: Lowe, Anita L. (1925 - 2013)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Lowe, Nemitz, Stucki, Garvin, Henning, Janke, Rice, Frost

----Source: Banner Journal (Black River Falls, Jackson Co., WI) 3/20/2013

Lowe, Anita L. (1925 - 13 March 2013)

Anita L. Lowe died at home surrounded by her family, March 13, 2013. She was born in Jackson County in 1925 to William (Willy) and Bessie Nemitz. Her father raised his family of six children on a small farm near Alma Center, following the death of his wife when Anita was five years old. Anita was a farm girl, a cheerleader and helper in the school kitchen as a high school student. Her farm upbringing carried over to gardening and small animal husbandry, which were constants for most of her life. Most recently, she had served as the chief consultant on family gardening and animal projects.

Anita was married to Chloris A. Lowe Sr., Oct. 26, 1946, in Neillsville by Reverend Ben Stucki. In those days, it was an unusual occurrence for a non-Indian woman to marry an Indian. She graciously withstood the loudly uttered hate speech and the disapproving, negative comments of the community naysayers. Her practice was to be kind to those misguided souls.

Known for great kindness and her generous spirit, Anita had many friends. She had a long-standing involvement with the local homemaker’s club and the Juneau County 4-H programs. She served as an adult leader for the Oak Hill Whiz Kids. She was an excellent teacher and role model for young people, offering a living example of patience, inquisitiveness, sportsmanship, tolerance and cross-cultural living.

For many years, Anita was a cook in the school lunch program and active in the Ladies Aid at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church. During her life, she over-saw and had hands-on preparation of thousands of meals. She made efforts to expand the palates of children to include new tastes. She always had time for “her little people” and loved to share with them. Nurturing was her nature. Starting as a part-time employee, and working with a team of dedicated co-workers, through the years, she worked to become the head cook. Her “school made” bread and goodies, conjured up from government commodities, were signature. Her cinnamon sweet roll recipe is no longer part of the lunch program, but lives on in the memories of former school board members, principals and teachers. Anita retired from the New Lisbon School District (NLSD) head cook position in 1991 - only to be called upon after two years of retirement to reprise her role in the kitchens of the New Lisbon School District. She knew that hard work had its rewards. Her strong work ethic, sense of fairness and an excellent sense of humor made it easy to work with and for her. She was proud of her accomplishments at NLSD and with the Food and Nutrition programs for CESA 12, having been elected by her peers to serve in leadership positions.

Anita was also most definitely an entrepreneur. For years, her gardens provided produce to those driving by the Lowe residence and her roadside stands. Even after the purchase of the Red Oaks Motel, there were always garden items to put out on the stand; strawberries being a featured treat. The motel provided another outlet for hospitality, and kept the family busy and mostly out of trouble. There was always a lawn to be mowed, beds to be made and laundry to be done. Busy seasons for the motel coincided with the breaks in the school calendar. Many weary travelers enjoyed the cheerful welcome they received from Anita.

Anita honored and respected each person she met, even the difficult ones amongst us and she encouraged the individualist spirit. She supported and encouraged education. She provided praise in proportionate measure with encouraging words supportive of efforts at self-improvement, and many times backed that up with private financial assistance. She helped and positively impacted many people in the community. She required no recognition while assisting the development and shaping of the character and integrity of her family and those who sought her help. All of us in her family, and those she worked with, taught and cared for directly, benefitted from her maternal tenderness. She placed a high value on truth, honor and an individual’s responsibility for the consequences of their acts.

She has a strong faith and knew that God is The Way, The Truth and The Life. She held on to this ultimate knowledge throughout the battle she waged with Alzheimer’s.

She is survived by her husband Chloris A. Lowe, Sr.; her three children Chloris, Jr., William (Rebecca) and Jo Deen. She has six grandchildren, Chloris A. Lowe, III; Kjetil Garvin (Henning), Abigail Lowe, Avery Lowe, Ashley Lowe and Allison Lowe. She has been gifted with eight great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her father and mother; sisters, Dahla (Doug) Janke, Lila (Anson “Junior”) Rice, Ethel (Everett) Frost, Lorraine (Ray) Lowe and her younger brother Claire (Lorraine “Tootie”) Nemitz and was last of the William Nemitz family.

Visitation was held from 10 a.m. to the time of services at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 16, 2013, at the St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 208 Allen Road New Lisbon. A lunch followed the services. Family and friends were invited to continue to the Curtis Cemetery, Garden Valley Township, in Jackson County (near Alma Center).

Funeral arrangements were provided by the Hare Funeral Home, New Lisbon. Online condolences may be made at www.harefuneralhome.com. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in Anita’s name to: Hospice Touch, Tomah Memorial Hospital, 321 Butts Avenue Tomah, WI 54660