Lois Vaaler Define
Lois Marie (nee Callstrom) Vaaler Define, 87, of St. Louis, MO passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 1, 2020, with her family by her side. Lois was the second of four children born to Hanna (nee Anderson) and Raymond Callstrom in Red Wing, MN on February 19, 1933.
She is preceded in death by her first husband, Thomas Phillip Vaaler, her second husband, J. Donald (“Don”)Define, and her siblings Raymond Callstrom, Gerald Callstrom, and Cathy Thompson.
Lois is survived by her three children Julie (Jeff) Christensen, Joel Vaaler, and Jennifer (Kevin) Bochantin and four grandchildren, Erin and Brent (Dina) Christensen, and Benjamin and Ethan Bochantin. She is also survived by her step-children Susan (Robert) Schneider, Rev. William Define, Nancy (Kevin) Lyons, Mary (John) Juenger, and Timothy (Jennifer) Define and ten grandchildren, Jessica (Steven) O’Connor, Lindsay, Eric, and Daniel Schneider, Christopher (Erin) and Nicholas Lyons, Michael and Alison Juenger, and Lauren and Alex Define as well as three great-grandchildren, Charles and Frances O’Connor and Madelyn Lyons.
Besides spending time with her family, Lois had many passions in life. Throughout her life, she loved gardening (like her father), quilting (like her mother and grandmother), and knitting. Some of the quilts, blankets, and sweaters Lois made were pure works of art. During her 30’s and 40’s Lois’s passion was showing Irish Setters with her friends Carol, Joan, and Maxine. Many wonderful memories came from their travels with the dogs and these ladies remained lifelong friends. In the last 30 years of her life, despite having Macular Degeneration, Lois’s life was fueled by her love of the game of bridge. The bridge table is even where she met Don. They shared a love for the game and enjoyed traveling to tournaments around the country, always sight-seeing along the way. Lois was a Ruby Life Master in the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) and had many friends in the bridge world. Just some of their kindness and generosity was shown by driving Lois to bridge, sorting her cards, accommodating her portable lamp, and helping her with short errands for the last 6 years of her life. These acts will be forever remembered by her children.
Lois was a loving, smart, independent, generous, strong Scandinavian woman. Her adventurous and fun-loving spirit will be missed by all who knew her.
Thanks for everything, Mom.
A memorial gathering for Lois will be postponed until July of 2021 due to Covid-19.
Lois graciously donated her body to science.
If any who knew Lois are so moved, the family requests that donations be made in her memory to Pedal the Cause (cancer research), or The American Contract Bridge League Educational Fund, or Brightfocus (Macular Degeneration), or a charity of your choice.
Lois was a wonderful person, friend, bridge player, and more! She will be missed by her bridge family at Bridge Haven and the St Louis Bridge Center. She was a regular at my Wed bridge game. We ❤️ loved sorting her cards and helping her. She loved the game, and we loved her!
May the good memories last a lifetime. May it be of some comfort to her family to know her friends really do care! She may be gone, but never forgotten.
I only knew and played bridge with Lois for a few years but I found her to be a cheerful presence who was always kind to this old rookie. Her memory was remarkable! If I was writing a book of “Profiles in Courage”, she would certainly have a chapter. RIP Lois.
Lois was my Saturday bridge partner for the last few years. On our travels to and from the game Lois told me about her family and their family vacations. We of course discussed bridge hands.Lois loved the game but above all she loved her family. Lois never complained about the challenges life presented . She ,no matter how many times I picked her up for bridge forgot to say thank you.She had a grateful spirit.She seemed content and happy in her last weeks surrounded by those she loved I hope to meet all of you in July
I was the substitute when Jeanne could not pick up or play bridge with Lois. Yes, she was always thankful for what others did for her, always complimentary and when talking about her family her face would light up and she would straighten up in her seat. She is missed very much.
Auntie Lois was so sweet, kind and loving, a blessing. She was related to us both through my dear, late uncle Tommy, but also through my late maternal grandfather, Harold. Lois and my parents and kinfolk came from the same area of southern rural Minnesota, where hard-working men and women toiled the soil on hardscrabble farms. Decent, honest, dedicated people who were the offspring of early immigrants. I thank God for having been blessed with such a wonderful aunt as Lois and with her lovely children — my dear cousins Julie, Joel, Jennifer, and their inlaws, and; Auntie Lois’s lovely grandchildren and their spouses. My wife Mina and I pray and send our love that Auntie Lois’s surviving family may be able to cope with their loss as best they can throughout the years, as we send our everlasting and sincerest condolences.