Margaret "Lois" Robinson

Margaret “Lois” Robinson, age 90, passed away peacefully March 9, 2016 at Thornton Manor in Lansing. Mass of Christian Burial was held Monday, March 14 at St. Ann-St. Joseph Catholic Church in Harpers Ferry, with the Rev. John Moser as celebrant. Burial followed in St. Joseph Paint Rock Cemetery, rural Harpers Ferry.
Lois was born December 1, 1925 to Thomas and Crystal (Reed) O’Brien on a farm near Paint Rock, rural Harpers Ferry in the same house that her father was born. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Joseph Catholic Church at Paint Rock.
She attended rural schools through her elementary grades and then for two years attended Waukon High School. She transferred to the Harpers Ferry High School, where she graduated in 1944. She was a member of the Harpers Ferry High School basketball team.
Prior to her marriage, she worked for many years at local businesses in Harpers Ferry. She was united in marriage with Marcus "Red" Robinson by their dear friend, Msgr. Vernon Peters, in Ossian in 1961. Three children were born to this union. In 1970, Lois started working for Northeast Iowa Community Action and continued there until her retirement in 1996.
Her greatest sadness in life was losing her son, Russell, when he was killed in action during the Invasion of Grenada in October 1983.
In 2004, Lois sold her home in Harpers Ferry and moved to Lansing, where she lived until the time of her passing. Over the years, she was a member of St. Ann-St Joseph Catholic Church and the Rosary Society, the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary, the VFW Auxiliary of Waukon and the Harpers Ferry Booster Club.
Lois loved the outdoors and enjoyed collecting rocks, fishing, and hunting ginseng and mushrooms. She loved to play horseshoes and softball and played weekly until she was 54 years old. She also enjoyed antiques, researching the history of Allamakee County and the Harpers Ferry area. She enjoyed bowling with her friends and Saturday night bingo at the Legion Hall. After moving to Thornton Manor in 2012, she spent most of her time putting together puzzles and reading through her numerous history scrapbooks.
Her greatest joy in life was her six grandchildren. She rarely missed any activity that they participated in and would be in attendance at softball, football and basketball games; plays, speech and musical events; and church activities. She was an avid scrapbooker and had scrapbooks of all of these activities completed for each of her grandchildren for their graduation.
Lois is survived by her two daughters, Regina (Leon) Manning and Patty (Ray) Manning; six grandchildren, Crystal (Ryan) Day, Matt Manning (Becky Blake), Mitchell Manning (Kelly Sobaski), Melissa Manning, Megan Manning and Joseph (Christina) Manning; one great-grandchild, Russell Ryan Day; one step great-grandchild, DaVante Day; one brother-in-law, Donald Easley; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Lois was preceded in death by her husband, Marcus "Red" Robinson; her son, Russell L. Robinson; her parents, Thomas and Crystal (Reed) O’Brien; her six sisters and brothers-in-law, Mary and Leroy Reinitz, Joyce and Dorse Farley, Doris and Olaf Johnson, Betty and Jack Boardman, Theresa and Bob Quinlan and Laurayne Easley; and her sisters- and brothers-in-law, Ethel and Lloyd Meehan, Leo and Margaret Robinson, Earl and Marcella Robinson, Forrest (Mick) and Ione Robinson, Bill and Freida Robinson, and Edith and George Zender.
Condolences may be left  at www.graufuneralhomes.com. Thornburg – Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Lansing assisted the family with arrangements.
Pallbearers were Carl Johnson, John Easley, Marty Boardman, Gary Osthoff, Jeff Johnson and Steve Manning. Honorary pallbearers were Lois’s grandchildren and the American Legion Auxiliary.