Lois Jean Ganyard, 96, of Macomb passed awaty at 7:12 a.m. Friday, August 28, 2026 at the Elms Nursing Home in Macomb.
Born September 30, 1929 in Milwaukee, WI to Miles J and Lucile (Cumming) Martin, joining 4 year old brother, Howard Hastings Martin. During her childhood she had two homes. First in Milwaukee, where she attended neighborhood schools, learned to take the trolly downtown for ballet lessons, attended Washington High football games. Second, summers in Door County, WI. Miles a professor, had no summer work during the Great Depression, so the family retreated to a former hunter's cabin in the woods on a cliff above Lake Michigan. No electricity, running water, or phone. Just Indian trails, sunrises and sunsets, lapping waves, kerosene lamps, armloads of books from the Sturgeon Bay Alber Library, and gathering around the fireplace for bedtime stories. WW II changed all that.
Miles and Howard were soon engaged in wartime service. Lois Jean and her Mom tended the home fires. Working as a Junior Red Cross Volunteer serving juice and cookies to blood donors began a pattern that continued throughout her life. Both Miles and Howard returned safely. Soon after the family moved to Scotia NY., where Miles joined the communications staff of GE Research Lab.
She went to Wooster College in Ohio, where she met David Ganyard, an Ohio boy from Mansfield. They married in June 1952, in the shadow of the Korean action. Following his term of service, they returned to Ohio to pursue Dave's PhD with help of the GI Bill. They had four children, Paul, Patty, Sara and Kathy.
The family arrived in Macomb as Western Illinois University was embarking on a growth spurt that would see it more than triple its size. The community was alive with possibilities. She was in on the beginnings of the Unitarian Fellowship, the League of Women Voters, the Friends of the Library, and the AARP Tax Aide program for seniors. She served on the Macomb Planning Commission eventually as Chair and the Library Board of Trustees. She chaired MDH Auxiliary's Health Careers Committee that raised money for scholarships. In recognition of these contributions to her community, she was honored to receive the Macomb Feminist Network “Writing Women in to History” award in 2015. She considered herself a foot soldier in the legions of women through history who have nurtured and inspired their families and communities to recognize, respect and appreciate the worth of all.
She joked that she was the last of the 'stay at home' mothers. Eventually when the youngest went to kindergarten at Logan she worked for Bing Coney, the architect who led the historic renovation of the courthouse. After earning an MA, she worked for the City of Monmouth for 13 years in Grant administration. After retiring she did some grant writing for WIRC. Finally she worked at the YMCA Senior Center as benefits counselor.
And most meaningful to her family, was her steady, quiet, support, always looking for, and quietly encouraging the best in each of us.
She is survived by her four children: Paul (Rhonda), Salem OR, Patty (Tom Owens), Pomona IL, Sara (Randy Myren), Janesville WI and Kathy, Macomb; five grandchildren: Rian Jean Ganyard, Salem OR, Elissa (Mathew) Moore, Post Falls ID, Meagan McAlister, Rochester MN, Emma McAlister (Spencer Lynch), Meriden NH, Ian McAlister, Chippewa Falls WI and two great-grandchildren: Calder and Liv Joy Moore.
Cremation rites have been accorded. Private burial of ashes will be in the Granger Cemetery in Medina, Ohio.
Clugston-Tibbitts Funeral Home in Macomb is in charge of arrangements. You may leave condolences and sign the guest book online at clugston-tibbitts.com.
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