Lois Ann Watson

Lois Ann Watson “graduated” (passed away peacefully) at her home in Des Moines, Iowa on August 26, 2024 at the age of 92. A Graduation (Celebration of Life) Ceremony will be held and livestreamed at 11:00 am on Saturday, September 21, 2024 at St. Paul Presbyterian Church, 6426 Merle Hay Road with a luncheon reception to follow. Visitation will be held from 5-7 pm Friday, September 20, 2024 at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines. Lois has requested celebrators wear bright colors! Lois has donated her body to Des Moines University. Her remains will be committed at Chapel Hill Cemetery on Merle Hay in Des Moines in 2025 in a private ceremony.

Born on January 20, 1932 to James and Lucille Truelsen, Lois grew up in West Bend with seven brothers and sisters. She graduated from West Bend Consolidated High School, where she played trumpet, sang in the choir, and was in multiple plays. She met Harlan Watson, her lifelong love and partner, and they married on Lois’s birthday in 1954. Lois graduated from Iowa State Teacher’s College in Cedar Falls, Iowa in 1952, and taught 5th grade while Harlan served overseas in the Navy. They had four children and relocated to Des Moines, Iowa in 1966 for Harlan’s job with Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services.

Lois was the definition of a hard-working, Midwestern woman of faith with a heart for service. Her faith has truly been a cornerstone in her life; she was an active member, cook, and Deacon at Westminster Presbyterian in Beaverdale and then St. Paul Presbyterian Church in Johnston, Iowa. She rang with the Bellmeisters (which she referred to as being a Ding-a-Ling), and sang in the Chancel Choir. Many recall seeing Lois’s welcoming smile at the Urbandale HyVee, where she was a greeter for over twenty years (into her 80’s!). She also volunteered at Calvin Community for too many years to count!

Lois was a lifelong gardener, baker, and one of the best cooks. When asked for her soup recipes, she would tsk and flap her hand (or point her cane) – not because it was a secret, but because there was never a recipe. She enjoyed playing and watching golf with her husband Harlan, puzzling, Bunco, and was active in Senior Singers. She loved visiting and chatting with friends, and they considered themselves lucky if they could get a word in. Her thoughtful phone calls and cards were deeply cherished, and a testament to the beacon of light and encouragement Lois was to all around her. While she knew “everything but the facts”, one thing Lois wanted everyone in her life to know she had right was how special and loved they were, and how grateful she was for their presence in her life and in her heart – often in threes (“love, love, love you” and “thank you thank you thank you”).

Lois is reunited with her parents, her siblings Kenneth (Lena), Nels (Agnes), Robert (Evelyn), Ella Beth (Leo), David (Donna), and James Truelsen, her husband Harlan, and her son Jay.

Her legacy of love, faith, and service lives on in her children, Dawn Watson, Sheri (favorite son-in-law Joe) Veraldi, Curt Watson; her grandchildren, Nathan Watson, Anna Lehocz, Sydney Watson, Veronica and Valerie Veraldi; great-granddaughter, Meredith Grace Watson; her sister, Joyce Anderson Hix; along with a host of friends who became family.

Lois referred to a lot of people as her angels on earth, but the truth is that Lois was the real angel. She is fulfilling her Heavenly purpose and looking forward to auditioning for the Heavenly Choir – we know she’ll make the cut.

Lois wasn’t a fan of flowers; “they’re just going to die!” Memorial gifts may be directed to St Paul Presbyterian Church’s memorial fund.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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