Louise R. Loew

Louise R Loew, 91, of Bloomer passed away peacefully on January 6, 2021 at Comforts of Home, Chippewa Falls under the care of St. Joseph’s Hospice with family by her side.

She was born on August 4, 1929 to Theodore Sr. and Louise (Sprague) Reinhardt of Merrill, WI.

Louise graduated from Merrill High School and Lincoln County Normal School and began her teaching career in 1948 in the Merrill area. 

She met the love of her life, Robert (Bob) E. Loew of Chippewa Falls, at Lakeview Ballroom where she was told “you are the one I was looking for” and 10 months later they were married at St Francis church in Merrill on June 2, 1951. After they were married, they moved to Westfir, Oregon where they lived, and Louise taught for 2 years and Bob worked for the Heinz Lumber Company.

Upon returning to Chippewa Falls, Louise and Bob took over the Loew farm. Louise was hands on when it came to farming but she also continued her teaching career.  She attended UW Eau Claire where she earned her BS degree in Education and graduated with honors. Louise taught for 37 years and was Principal for 6 of those years. The schools she taught in were Eighteen Mile Creek, Merrill (one room School), Sunny Valley, Chippewa Falls (in Irvine park), Sunnyside, Chippewa Falls, St Charles, Chippewa Falls and St Peters, Tilden.  She retired in 1985 to spend winters with Bob in Arizona.  In 2001 she came out of retirement to be the principal at St Paul’s in Bloomer for 1 year.  She was proud of the fact that she never applied for a teaching positon… somehow they always found her. She continued to substitute teach until she was 83 years’ old primarily in the Colfax school system where she had the pleasure to work with Dennis Geissler and Bill Yingst.

Louise was proud of her Swiss heritage.  Her father immigrated from Switzerland to Merrill, WI in 1923.  Louise and Bob traveled to Switzerland in 1965 to participate in the Reinhardt family reunion and her family continues that tradition today.   Louise was active in 4-H as a leader and was an original member of the Happy Homemaker’s club and was a member of the Christian Mothers Society, St Teresa circle for many years.  She also had an active interest in her children’s school activities and took them on many family vacations.  In her spare time, she loved to go to the casino, play cards, watch her beloved Packers and spending time with her family and friends. 

Louise was a 3-time cancer survivor. It was her belief in the power of prayer that supported her through the difficult times.

Louise is survived by her children. Gary (Cynthia) Loew of Chippewa Falls, Linda (Paul) Caillier of Eau Claire, Mary (Dean) Hanson of Green Bay and Ernest Loew of Chippewa Falls; 12 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren; two brothers, Paul (Hope) Reinhardt of Green Bay and Charles Reinhardt of Merrill.  

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Bob, brother Theodore Reinhardt Jr. of Merrill and her grandson Matthew Hanson.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to Mark and Jackie Baier for being caring and supportive neighbors.

The family prefers memorials to donorschoose.org or the Boys & Girls Clubs of the  Greater Chippewa Valley, 21 E.  Grand Ave. Chippewa Falls, WI 54729

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, January 13 at St. Peter’s Church, town of Tilden. Interment will be in the church cemetery.

Friends may call from 4-7 p.m. on Tuesday, January 12 at the Horan Funeral Home, Chippewa Falls and from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday at the church. There will be a Christian Vigil service at 4 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home.

Per the state mandate, facemasks are required for all those attending.

Friends and family may express condolences online at www.horanfuneralhome.com

AFTER SERVICE NOTICE:

Funeral services for Louise R. Loew were held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, January 13 at St. Peter’s Church in Tilden.

Rev. Msgr. Michael J. Gorman was celebrant of the funeral Mass assisted by Deacon Dan Rider. Interment was in the church cemetery.

Music during the Mass was provided by Nancy Haley and the St. Peter’s Funeral Choir. Readings were given by Megan Loew. Gift bearers were Eleanor and Evelyn Kelly. A reflection was given by Todd Caillier.

Casket bearers were Todd Caillier, Randy Geissler, Dean Hanson, Al Kelly, Chuck Loew, and Kent Reinhardt.

Honorary casket bearer was Jim Irwin.

Tuesday afternoon Rev. Msgr. Gorman led the family, relatives and friends in a Christian vigil service at the funeral home.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Louise R. Loew, please visit our floral store.