Lois L. Zerkle
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FORT ATKINSON, WI - Lois Lucille (Martin) Zerkle, 94, of Whitewater, WI, slipped away January 17, 2021.
The youngest of five children born to Archie and Elsie (Roeder) Martin in Elkader, Iowa, she graduated Elkader High School in 1944 and attended Elkader Junior College before joining Evanston Hospital's Cadet Nurse Training Program. Tuberculosis delayed her training with a three year quarantine, but she persevered working in the sanatorium clinic and studying at the University of Iowa becoming a Registered Nurse in 1951 and earning her degree from Northwestern.
She was married to Robert H. Zerkle for 56 years until Bob's passing in 2013. Their son, Gregory and his wife, Cynthia Marty, are professional actors living in Los Angeles.
Lois' nursing career included Psychiatric Head Nurse in Evanston, IL, Head Nurse of Obstetrics for Fort Atkinson Memorial Hospital, Cambridge (WI) Clinic Nurse and Nursing Supervisor at the Bethesda Lutheran Home in Watertown until her career was ended by a drunk driver in 1991. She overcame that setback as she did so many others.
She belonged to the Wisconsin and National Nurse's Association, American Association of University Women, The Lois Club and East Koshkonong Lutheran Church.
She loved crafts from knitting and sewing to ceramics, traveled to 48 states and 5 World's Fairs and followed Greg's acting career attending his performances on Broadway and across the country.
Known for her light heart, ready smile and sharp sense of humor, she delighted in puns, puzzles and word games.
Preceded in death by her parents; husband, Robert; brothers, Russell, Donald and Virgil Martin and sister, Elaine (Roy) Syverson.
In addition to her son, she's survived by nephews Russell Martin of Norfolk, Virginia; Roger Martin of Gloucester, Virginia; nieces Linda (Merle) Miller of Tiffin, Iowa; Vickie (Kurt) Freeman of Marion, Iowa; and cousins Pat Best of Chicago, IL and Erma Joleen Friederich and Clifford Allan Friederich of Marion, Iowa.
The family expresses deep gratitude to her friend, Barb Heitzler, Fairhaven Senior Services and Fort Atkinson Memorial Hospital.
Her indomitable spirit was strong to the end. She will be missed by all whose lives she touched.
Private burial at Lakeview Cemetery, Fort Atkinson. Celebration of Life TBA.
Memorials may be made to: The Lois Zerkle Memorial Fund c/o Badger Bank, 220 Grant Street, Fort Atkinson Wi, 53538.
Dunlap Memorial Home in Fort Atkinson is assisting the family.
www.dunlapmemorialhome.com