Lois VerMeulen

Lois Ann (Shoemaker) VerMeulen, of Rancho Palos Verdes, CA-formerly of Kalamazoo, Michigan passed away peacefully in her sleep at her home at the Canterbury. Lois was born in McDonald Michigan to William Shoemaker and Theresa (Righter) Shoemaker. She graduated with honors from Hartford High School in 1944 and entered into the United States Cadet Nursing Corps that fall. Lois proudly attended the Bronson Methodist Hospital School of Nursing and graduated in 1947 as a Registered Nurse. She loved to tell stories of her life as a student nurse and kept in close contact with classmates and other alumni. Upon graduation, Lois began her nursing career as a operating room nurse-assisting the renown Dr. Stryker. It was through one of her nursing school classmates that she met the handsome Marine, William VerMeulen whom she married on September 15, 1950. Bill and Lois have two daughters, Karen Sue (Steve) Olds and Jane Ellen (Kenneth) Shank. After she began raising her family she went to work as a nurse in the office of Drs. Birch, Peake, and Gerstner where she worked for the next 40 plus years. Lois believed in service and volunteering-she was active in the Red Cross, Bronson Alumni Association, Greenwood Reformed Church and could always be counted on to be the room mother for her daughters' classrooms or host a holiday brunch for her husband's co-workers. Once she moved to California she continued to volunteer at St. Peter's By the Sea Presbyterian Church (where she was a member) and also at the Canterbury on the Resident's Advisory Committee and as the Disaster Preparedness Officer! Lois was preceded in death by her husband William, son-in-law Steve Olds, daughter Karen Olds, sister Beverly Parks and her husband Harry Parks, and sister Patricia Vint and her husband Jack Vint. She is survived by daughter Jane Shank and her husband Ken, grandson Jonathon Shank, grandson Michael Olds and wife Paige, and niece Cheri Robinson and her husband Keith Robinson and their children and families. Lois is also survived by her long time Kalamazoo neighbors and 'family by choice' Bruce and Pam Stohrer and their extended family. A celebration of Lois's life will be held at 11:30 on May 7th at Bethany Reformed Church in Kalamazoo with a light lunch to follow at the church. In lieu of flowers, please feel free to donate to Bethany Reformed Church or the charity of your choice. Although Lois moved to California in 2007, her heart was always in Michigan and she considered herself a true 'Gal from Kalamazoo'. She always said she didn't want tears, but rather a joyous celebration of her life and a reminder that we are all here to 'do the best we can with what we have' in an effort to make the world a better place.