Lois Onthank, 75, of Grinnell, died on Friday, June 14, 2024, at her home.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 am, Monday, June 24, 2024, at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell. A private family interment will be at Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell. A luncheon will be held at the Eagles in Grinnell.

The family will receive friends at the visitation held from 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm on Sunday at the Smith Funeral Home.

Memorials may be designated to PALS (Poweshiek Animals League Shelter) or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and mailed in care of the Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, Iowa 50112. Memories and condolences may be shared with Lois' family online at www.smithfh.com.

Lois Jean Raber was born the daughter of Ralph and Grace (Galloway) Raber on January 22, 1949 in Grinnell, Iowa. She was raised on the family farm and graduated from Grinnell High School with the class of 1967.

Lois was united in marriage to Ronald Eugene Innis at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa in 1967. Their marriage was blessed with two daughters, Tina and Tammy. Their marriage later ended in divorce. Lois was married to James Richard Onthank on May 3, 1978 in Grinnell. The couple lived in Grinnell and Lois was employed at GTE for several years. Later in life, she became a CNA and provided home health care as well as hospice care for a period of time.

Lois loved to sing and was active in swing choir, Town and Country Singers, and community theater, where she was part of many plays over the years. She held a special love for animals, especially her black labs. She was proud of her Irish heritage and loved looking for four leaf clovers, which brought her good luck. She was a history buff and spent countless hours reading about the Civil War and past presidents. She was a big fan of old western shows and her favorite was Gunsmoke. Her enjoyments were visiting with friends and family, trout fishing, going critter hunting with Jim, listening to music, and watching sports, especially her favorite team, the Kansas City Chiefs. She will be remembered for her sense of humor and her happy-go-lucky attitude.

Lois is survived by her daughters, Tina (Jeff Jones) Innis of Grinnell, and Tammy (Scott) Jones of Ankeny; stepson, Brian (Kendra Quinn) Onthank of Altoona; grandchildren, Katelyn and Maisi Onthank, Noah and Zach (Emma Dewey) Innis, and Grace and Nathan Jones; and brother, Doyle Raber. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Grace (Galloway) Raber; husband, Jim Onthank; and sisters, Eleanor Freese, Marge Fowler, Ruth Breeden, Carolyn Purvis.