Lois O. Kinnan

Lois Olive (McKee) Kinnan was born March 10, 1944, in Franklin, Nebraska to Melville and Helen (Martin) McKee. Lois attended grade school and high school at Franklin Public Schools graduating in 1962. She furthered her education at Nebraska Wesleyan in Lincoln pursuing a degree in Mathematics before going to Nebraska Methodist College and earning her Registered Nursing degree in 1966. While earning her RN degree, she met the love of her life. After college and the return of Dick from Vietnam, the two were united in marriage on August 6, 1967, at the First United Methodist Church in Franklin, Nebraska. The two made their home in Omaha where Lois worked as a Labor and Delivery nurse at Methodist Hospital. She continued her career in Hamburg, Iowa, Sidney, Iowa, Nebraska City, Nebraska, Ogallala, Nebraska, and Kearney, Nebraska. She was floor nurse, charge nurse, director of nursing, ER, long term care, transplant procurement coordinator, and just a good ol’ rural nurse; once even doing a nurse exchange to Fairbanks, Alaska for six months. In 2002, Lois received a “Caring Kind” Award from the Nebraska Hospital Association, recognizing and honoring outstanding hospital employees who exemplify the spirit of caring in their daily work. She retired in 2010 after 43 years of employment. Lois and Dick had four children, Kari, Kris, Kim, and Mark. Lois was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Kearney, Health and Wellness Ministry, United Methodist Church Women’s Group, and numerous other church and scouting committees. Lois enjoyed many hobbies including being a seamstress, scout leader, cook, baker, square dancing, playing cards, board games, crocheter, embroidery, and quilting. She made quilts for family, retiring doctors, coaches, raffles, and The Cattlemen’s Ball of Nebraska fundraiser. She played French horn into adulthood and was a member of the St Cecilia choir. She was involved in girl and boy scouting and referring volleyball matches when she was younger. She spent time with Dick and Emma’s cat CallieCat, the buffalo herd, and loved to travel. Lois played basketball, volleyball, and softball in school, church, and mixed league. Lois lived a very full life with many accomplishments and activities. However, the most important thing to Lois was always her family. She loved her husband, children, and grandchildren fiercely and without reservation. She would speak with great pride to anyone that asked about her family, what they were up to, and their accomplishments. She enjoyed spending time with them and was liberal with her time, teaching, and loves. Lois Olive Kinnan left a positive and caring mark on the souls of those around her. She was honest, God fearing, genuine, and loving. She was a teacher at heart and taught until the end. She will be greatly missed by her family and those fortunate enough to know her. Survivors include her husband of 55 years, 326 days, Dick of Gibbon; daughter, Kari Kinnan of Omaha; daughter and son-in-law, Kris and Matt Kuhn of Lincoln; and daughter and son-in-law, Kim and Jason Payne of Kearney; daughter-in-law, Laura Kinnan of Nevada; and six grandchildren, Estéban, Zach, Cassie, Jessica, Trevor, and Emma. She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Mark Kinnan; brother, Joe (and wife Dorothy) McKee, sister Phyllis (and husband Paul) Frerichs, sister-in-law, Jeannie McKee, and brother-in-law, Joe Harper.

Lois O. Kinnan

March 10, 1944 - June 28, 2023