Lois M. Heck

Lois M. Heck age 98 of Viroqua, died Tuesday May 28, 2019. Our beloved matriarch Lois M. Heck passed away peacefully at the Bland Bekkkedal Center for Hospice Care in Viroqua on May 28, 2019. She was born in Chicago, IL on November 4, 1920 to parents, Irvin J. and Martha (nee Koch) Bernhardt. She was a child of the depression who lost her father to illness when she was fifteen years old. As a young woman she was a member of Jobs Daughters and a 1938 graduate of Carl Schurz High School. On June 24, 1939 she married Kenneth L. Heck in McHenry IL. Following the marriage they made their home in Des Plaines, IL During WWII she was employed in the payroll department of Montgomery Ward in Chicago. Later she successfully transitioned from the big city to rural, small town Viroqua. After the war she helped out at the Heck familys Dach Ridge farm prior to permanently moving into town. She was a stay at home mother to three children before taking a job as bookkeeper for Viroqua Area Schools in 1962. She held that job until retirement in 1983. Besides being a hard worker and caring wife and mother, Lois was many other things. She was a cancer survivor with a great sense of humor. She was an avid golfer who usually played 9 holes with her friend, Ag Schroeder, before starting work at the school. Plus she participated in and won several events at the Viroqua Country Club. For many years she decorated hundreds of ceramic items which she signed with the nickname "Sophie". She held life memberships in both the VFW and Legion Auxiliaries. She was a Girl Scout leader and also taught Sunday-School at the Church of Christ. For several years she and Kenneth were active members of an investment group called the Jack Club. Her generosity was boundless, with gifts to her family members as well as numerous charities. She was an enthusiastic bridge player who also enjoyed Sunday afternoon 500 games, as well as jigsaw puzzles and Free Cell on her computer. Lois was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth, on March 19, 2005, her parents, her in-laws, John and Julia Heck, her brothers and sisters-in-law, Herbert and Viola Bernhardt and George and Olga Bernhardt, a nephew, Richard Bernhardt, sisters-in-law and their husbands, Leone and Jack Calef and Hilda and Theon "Shorty" Keller. She is survived by, her children Martha (Richard) Nawratil, Monona WI, Julie Malone, Viroqua and John (Phyllis) Heck, Onalaska. She is further survived by five granddaughters, Amy (Loren) Benner, Mount Joy, PA, Sarah Heck, Anchorage AK, Leah (Daniel) Hillebrand, Stoddard, WI, Kristen (Amar) Nikhanj, Milwaukee, WI and Stephanie Malone, Holmen, WI; nine great grand-children: Britany, Victoria, Zachary and Kyla Benner, Kenden Bishofsky, Rylan and Gideon Hillebrand , Reena and Zara Nikhanj, a niece, Carole (Colin) Colangelo, McHenry IL and a nephew,John (Barb) Keller, Rolla, MO. There will be a visitation on June 15, 2019 from noon until the time of service at 1:00 P.M. at the Viroqua Church of Christ, 825 Nelson Parkway. Pastor, Andrew Pratt officiating. Burial will be at the Liberty Pole Cemetery.