Lois E. Pera

Lois E. Pera (nee Wenger) 7/30/1933 – 2/20/2025

Lois passed away and was reunited with her husband, Rev. Victor H. Pera, on Thursday, February 20, 2025, at the age of 91. Loving mother of Michelle Pera, Steven Pera (Janet Seger), and Thomas Pera (Virgie Pera). Loving grandmother of Jessica, Jeremiah, Joshua, Sophia, Eric, Athena, Ethan, and Johnathan (J.J.).

Lois was born July 30th, 1933 in Ada, Minnesota to the late Rev. Arnold and Mrs. Thekla Wenger (Dierks). She had one older brother, Arnie, and one younger sister, Sylvia (Franzmeier), who have both predeceased her.

Lois was baptized, confirmed, and married by her father. She was baptized in Ada. At the age of 3 she moved to Lakefield, Minnesota, where she attended Immanuel Lutheran Grade School. In 1947 her father accepted a call to St. Stephen Lutheran Church in Duluth, Minnesota, where Lois was confirmed. She graduated from Denfeld High School in 1951.

Her father then moved to Immanuel Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. Lois graduated from Concordia Jr. College, St. Paul, Minnesota in 1943. After attending Concordia, River Forest, Illinois for a summer, she taught in Lutheran schools for four years: two in Bonduel, Wisconsin, one in Minneapolis, and one in St. Louis, Missouri.

In Minneapolis, on July 30, 1956, Lois married Victor Pera, a Lutheran seminary student who had been her sweetheart ever since they met at Concordia in 1951. They moved to St. Louis where Victor completed his seminary training and Lois taught school.

Their first parish (1957-1963) was St. Martin Lutheran Church, a country church at Piper, Kansas. In their 5 years at St. Martin, two children were born: Michelle and Steven. Lois taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and attempted to play the organ in emergencies.

Their second parish (1963-1969) was at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, where Victor became the assistant pastor to Lois’s father in a church of 3000+ communicants. Lois taught 6th grade confirmation, Sunday School, Saturday School, and VBS. A year-old boy became their son: Thomas. Lois earned credits at the University of Wisconsin, Sheboygan.

Their third parish (1969-1973) was at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Newton, North Carolina, where Lois was church secretary, taught Sunday School, and played the organ for several years.

Because Victor wanted to work in an inner-city church, their fourth (and last) parish was at Gospel Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (1973-1999). Lois taught Sunday School, VBS, and was active in choirs, altar guild, and food pantry. In 1983 at age 49, she graduated Magna Cum Lauda with a BS in elementary education from Concordia College, Milwaukee (now Concordia University). She taught school for 7 years at St. Leo’s Grade School and 8 years at Malcom X Middle School.

Lois and Victor took their children on long car camping trips to visit relatives around the country, and along the way took in marvels of nature and visited many historical sites. Lois enjoyed attending symphony concerts and Shakespeare plays, taking long walks and spending time with family.

After Victor died in 2007, Lois remained at Gospel, working on various projects, such as food pantry, evangelism, altar guild, and choir. Lois remained spunky and independent. Though during the last few years of her life she was slowed down by COPD, osteoporosis, a bad back, and other health issues, she retained a positive attitude and remained active at church and at home. Her standard goodbye, which she said to virtually every stranger she met, was “G.W.G. – Go with God!”

Visitation will be held at Gospel Lutheran Church, 1535 West Capitol Drive, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Friday, March 14, 2025, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM. Funeral Service at 11:00 AM. Burial will be held at Graceland Cemetery on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 10:00 AM. Please meet at main office at 9:45 AM.

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