Lois Ditch

    Lois F. (Sieleman) Ditch, 86, of 354 Willowbrook Dr., Mason City, Iowa died Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011 at her home.
    Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, at Holy Family Catholic Church, Mason City, with the Rev. Michael J. Schueller officiating.  Burial will be in Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City.  Family suggests memorials to Holy Family Catholic Church or Hospice of North Iowa.

    Lois was born Sept. 24, 1924, in Hawkeye, Iowa, a daughter of Martin and Mildred (Cook) Timm.  She attended school in Fayette, Iowa and graduated from Fayette High School in 1942.  She then attended Upper Iowa University, graduating in 1944 with a two-year degree in business.  Upon her graduation she spent the next five years as secretary and office manager for Farmers Home Administration in West Union, Iowa and later in the state office in Des Moines.
    She married Donald J. Sieleman on June 22, 1949 at Holy Name Catholic Church in West Union.  They made their home in Iowa City, Iowa.  She transferred to the Department of Interior and was secretary to the State Geologist until the birth of her first child.  They relocated to Mason City in 1960.  After being a stay-at-home mom, Lois returned to the work force in 1970 as a paraprofessional and later secretary at Roosevelt Middle School, retiring in 1986.  Upon her husband’s retirement in 1987 they moved to Sun Lakes, Az. for three and one-half years.  They returned to Mason City Oct. 1, 1991.  Don passed away Jan. 16, 1992.
    Lois and Harold Ditch were united in marriage on Nov. 1, 1997, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Mason City.  Harold Passed away Dec. 15, 2007.
    Lois was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church, St. Theresa Circle, Holy Family Funeral Choir, and was a volunteer for Hospice of North Iowa and Community Kitchen.  She liked to travel, read, do handiwork and dance.  Much joy and pride was derived from her family.
    Survivors include her one daughter, Debra K. Johnson and husband, Jerry, Marshalltown, Iowa; two sons, Michael T. Sieleman, Mason City, and James M. Sieleman and wife, Cathy, of Bettendorf, Iowa; four granddaughters, Kate Davis (Dan), Des Moines, Iowa, Erin Johnson, Dallas, Texas, Maggie (Ethan) Conner-Ross, Philadelphia, Penn., and Emily Sieleman, San Angelo, Texas; one grandson, Jack D. Sieleman, Bettendorf, Iowa; two great-grandchildren, Daniel and Jude Davis; Des Moines, Iowa; two stepsons, Alan Ditch, Tucson, Az, Dean Ditch, Rocheport, Mo.; one stepdaughter, Karen VanBlair and her husband, Rick, Pensacola, Fla.; two step-grandsons, Jonas Ditch, Columbia, Mo., Josh VanBlair, Crestview, Fla.; two step-granddaughters, Amanda VanBlair, Orlando, Fla., and Nell Hasheider and her husband, Craig, Jackson, Mo.; sister-in-law, Laura Timm, Des Moines; sister-in-law, Beverlee (Sieleman) Drugan, El Paso, Texas; brother-in-law, Rodney Sieleman and his wife, Maxine, Des Moines.  She also leaves many nieces, nephews and friends.
    She was preceded in death by her husbands, Donald J. Sieleman (Jan. 16, 1992) and Harold Ditch (Dec. 15, 2007); her parents; four brothers, Bryce, Loel, Wayne and Virgil (in infancy) Timm; sisters-in-law, Bertha Timm, Irene Finberg, Ann Sieleman, and brothers-in-law, Robert B Sieleman and George Drugan.
    Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, Mason City, was in charge of arrangements.