Lois Caryn Smith

Lois Caryn Smith, age 68, passed away on Sunday, September 25, 2016 at Waters Edge Care Center in Kenosha. Lois was born April 17, 1948 in Racine to the late Leslie C. and Bernice L. (Biebel) Smith.

She earned a Bachelor Degree in Art and Design from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and went on to Masters Studies under Disney animators at Sheridan College in Ontario, Canada. Lois taught art at St Thomas Aquinas School in Milwaukee, Drought School in North Cape and Prairie School in Racine.

Throughout her lifetime Lois had a fascination to learn and to try new things and to follow the pathways of her many diverse interests. Lois earned her LPN degree and worked in the healthcare field; studied and qualified as a paralegal and worked for law firms in downtown Chicago; earned certification as a SCUBA diver and earned her small airplane pilots license.

Lois has always had a passion for art since early on in life. Her many displays of artwork included the 1997 Festival of Trees and Christmas House. Lois was a contributing artist and served as supervisor of student art for Racine’s Sesquicentennial Celebration in 1998. Her life-size Trompe L’oeil artwork “Easter Parade” was displayed at Milwaukee’s Mitchell Park Domes and locally in Racine; and her sculpture, “Kiltie Cat, a salute to Racine’s astronaut, Laurel Salton Clark” was Lois’ entry in Racine’s Second Annual Public Art Event, “Cat’n Around Downtown” during the summer of 2003.

Through her business, Art Chalet of Racine, Lois served clientele from the northern Chicago suburbs to the Milwaukee area with beautiful indoor and outdoor artwork of acrylics and murals, ranging from small paintings to entire rooms and sides of commercial buildings.

Lois was a lifelong member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Racine.

Lois will be dearly missed by brothers, Ronald (Diane) of Racine and Randall of Green Bay; nieces Wendy (Ron) Goldschmidt of Waterford and Tracey (Tim) Lui of Racine; grandnieces Samantha Lahti and Melissa Lui and grandnephew Matthew Lahti. In addition to her parents, Lois was preceded in death by her fiancé, Daniel Carstens.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, October 2, 2016, 3:00 P.M. at the funeral home with Rev. Stephen J. Stradinger officiating. Relatives and friends may meet with the family Sunday at the funeral home from 1:00 P.M. until time of service at 3:00 P.M. Interment will be in the family plot at Allouez Catholic Cemetery in Green Bay.

The Smith family wishes to express sincere appreciation to the incredible staff of Waters Edge Care Center in Kenosha, including Becky, Casey, Shirley, Ashley, Paula, Corina RN, Corina CNA, Sara, Shaquanda, Lucy, and Virginia for their gentle, loving and compassionate care to Lois. Also a special thank you to Theresa for her therapeutic massage care over the years.