Jeanette Lofthus

Jeanette Louise Lofthus 1920-2010
Blessed with her final earthly desire, Jeanette Louise Lofthus, 89, of Sand Creek passed away Saturday, January 9, 2010, at her home, lovingly cared for and surrounded by her family.
She was born in Chippewa Co. on August 16, 1920, to Joseph and Bertha (Fehr) Bitney. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran in Bloomer. She married Malcolm Lofthus on October 17, 1941, in Bloomer. They shared 56 years together creating and sustaining a loving home, parenting their eight children, and earning their livelihood through farming. The legacy for which she will be remembered is the love, energy, strength, and passion she had for motherhood and all it involved. In her later years she enjoyed watching her family grow through marriage and welcoming new grandchildren and great-grandchildren into her fold, watching over the activities of her family, camping at Myron Park and Sleepy Hollow campgrounds, reading and doing puzzles, and in her last years, creating Loft-a-Bit campground, the gathering place for family.
Jeanette lived her belief �" God first, family second, and everything else will fall in place. This belief and her strong faith in God was instilled and encouraged in her children and all those whose lives she touched. She taught us our life lessons by being a living example of what it means to be a child of God. Throughout her life her church families included those members of St. John’s Lutheran, Bloomer, Our Savior’s and New Hope Lutheran, Sand Creek. While serving as the Sunday School superintendent at Our Savior’s she influenced the lives of many young people. She was a life-long member and active participant in the Riverside Circle at Our Savior’s, the Ruth Circle at New Hope and the ALCW/WELCA.
She is survived by two sons, Barry (FloyAnn) of New Auburn and Mark of Burnsville, Minnesota; six daughters, Bonnie (Gene) Peterson of New Auburn, Sharon (Kenny) Nelson of Sand Creek, Patricia (Ed) McClure of Fairbanks, Alaska, Kathy (Lyndon) Peterson of New Auburn, Becky (Daniel) Riewestahl of Altoona, and Joyce (Steven) Panasuk of New Richmond ; one sister, Naomi Oakley of Spokane, Washington, sisters-in-law Ruby (Lloyd) Moats, Judy (Fred) Dobbs, and Dorothy (Ansel) Lofthus all of Chippewa Falls; 24 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, many relatives, friends, and special caregiver, Bonnie Gullickson.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Mac; an infant daughter; three sisters, Leona Rudie, Thelma Klund, and BernettaThornby; and son-in-law, Steven Smith.
Funeral services will be at 11:00, Thursday, January 14, 2010, at New Hope Lutheran Church in Sand Creek with Reverend Barb Koch officiating. Interment will be in Our Savior’s Cemetery in Sand Creek. Friends may call from 4 to 7, Wednesday, January 13, at Olson Funeral Home in Bloomer, and an hour before services Thursday at the church.