Lois Gerstenberger Harvey, age 89, passed away quietly on Monday 12/26/16 at Imboden Creek Living Center, Decatur IL. Lois was born in December of 1926 in Oelwein, Iowa, and was married for 45 years to John E. Harvey of Denver Co. He died in 1990.
She is survived by her four children: Greg (Karen) of Blaine, MN; Teena Lichtenberger of Decatur, IL; Shauna (Clif) Carey of Champaign, IL; Luana (Dusty) Rhodes of Cape Girardeau, MO; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; one sister. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband John, three brothers, three sisters, son-in-law Lynn Lichtenberger, and great-grandson Jake Grossman.
Lois was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She was a writer, poet, author, journalist, newspaper columnist, tap-dancer, genealogist. Although we have missed her and mourned her for several years, now we celebrate her life as a true Renaissance woman. Memorials can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org, or at 225 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago IL 60601.
Cremation is being handled by Tanzyus/Logan Funeral Service and Care . A private family memorial will be held at a later date. Ashes will be interred at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver Co, alongside her husband John.
She wished to leave one of her poems in farewell –
The Last Dance:
When the clock strikes twelve
Let me dance once more
Across the boards
For auld lang syne,
Thought the music stills
And the beat records
No footfall there
But mine.
Then let me pause
Cognizant, mid-whirl,
For one final exit line,
“Thank you,
I’ve had a lovely time.”