Lois Pauline Ludewig (nee Bukolt) died peacefully at home in Oshkosh on December 17, 2020 at the age of 89.
Lois was born on March 20, 1931 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Alexander and Helen (Metzke) Bukolt. She attended several different schools while growing up and graduated from Oshkosh High in 1948.
She earned a 2-year degree in Kindergarten Training from the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minnesota. She married Bill Ludewig at the St. Mary’s Church Parsonage on June 23, 1951. She later returned to school and graduated in June 1960 from UW-Oshkosh with a degree in Lower Elementary Education. That fall, she began her teaching career as a first-grade teacher at Merrill Elementary School and later transferred to Green Meadow School. She then was selected to become a member of the special year and a half long ProCon Fellowship program to obtain her Master’s Degree and become the lower elementary open concept team leader at the new Jacob Shapiro School.
Lois continued her studies and earned her Reading Teacher license in 1977, which lead to becoming the Title I reading teacher at Washington School. She then went on and received her Reading Specialist license in 1979. Washington School was where she finished out her 28-year career with the Oshkosh Area School District in June 1989. For several subsequent years, she supervised student teachers for UW-Oshkosh.
Lois became fascinated with vintage and antique glass particularly Early American Pattern Glass and Carnival Glass. She frequented auctions and house sales in search of pieces to add to her extensive collection. After discovering and falling in love with Sanibel Island, she and Bill purchased two beach condos which they used during school vacations and otherwise rented out until they became full-fledged snowbirds. They later wintered at Kelly Greens Golf and Country Club in Fort Myers, Florida.
With Sanibel being synonymous with seashells, she became an expert in collecting and identifying a wide variety of shells. In fact, seashells even became treasured prizes and awards for her elementary students. This interest led her to become a docent for several years at the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum. Sanibel Island history also sparked an interest in her and she served as a docent at the Sanibel Historical Museum and Village. When in Oshkosh, Paine Art Center and Arboretum was where you could frequently find her guiding tours of the mansion.
Lois is survived by her two daughters Alexis Ludewig (Jerry Sherwood) Savannah, Tennessee and Amy Ludewig Swan (Jeff Nisenoff) Waikoloa, Hawaii. She is also survived by a granddaughter Alexandra Nisenoff attending the University of Chicago. She was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years William (Bill) Ludewig and her parents.
Per her wishes, there will be no funeral or memorial service. Her cremated remains will be interred next to Bill’s at Lake View Memorial Park. The family would like to thank Father Kevin of St. Raphael’s for his blessings, Aurora at Home Hospice Care for their compassion, and especially Shirley for her dedication to Lois and the family throughout the years.
Her soul is now at peace.
