Lois Domina

August 27, 1929 - November 12, 2021

Lois Ardith Domina was born on August 27, 1929 on the family farm near Castana, Iowa to Robert William Sr. And Nellie Evelyn (Riley) Wagner. The family later moved to a farm east of Turin, Iowa. Lois attended country school through the 9th grade but never completed high school. Lois had various jobs growing up and life was hard. At age 14, she got her hair stuck in the washing machine laundry ringer. She lived on a farm west of Onawa, Iowa and then moved to a worked at a boarding house in Onawa for 1.5 years. Lois moved to another boarding house and worked at the Onawa Café “The Dairy Lunch” for 6 months. During the following summer, Lois and Dorothy Domina roomed together and detasseled corn. That fall Lois moved back to Turin, Iowa, above the restaurant “The Frog Pond” and got a job working at the restaurant for about 3 months. On August 27, 1947 Lois was married to Clifton Orville Domina in Sloan Iowa at the Christian Church. To this union 5 children were born. David Eugene (died July 11, 2016) (Patricia) Domina of Norfolk, Nebraska; Gary Lee (Elena) Domina of Coos Bay, Oregon; Nancy Faye (died at 22 months of age); Paul Leslie (Karen) Domina of Omaha, Nebraska; Betty Marie Davis of Omaha, Nebraska. The couple moved to the Luchsinger Farm near Hornick, Iowa and one memory of the home was that someone put mothballs in the bed. They lived there until September of 1950. In November of 1956, Clifton began working as a government meat inspector for the U.S.D.A. The family moved to Omaha, Nebraska. In 1963, the family moved to Harlan, Iowa until 1975 when they moved to Hancock, Iowa. Lois lived there until 2016 when she was diagnosed with a brain tumor and was given 2 hours to two days to live. She became a resident of Avoca Specialty Care Center until her passing. Her life was filled with many things like gardening, canning fruits and vegetables, playing solitaire, doing word searches, putting puzzles together and reading Christian books. Lois cared for her father for several years before his death, and then her own husband for many years cooking and cleaning and other household chores. Lois always loved children and was known for the daycare services she provided between 1970 and 1990. At one time she had 6 little ones to care for. It was very busy but one of the most fun and rewarding things she had done. She spent many of her days crocheting special blankets for any new baby that came along. She as active in the church having been a member at Methodist Church in Turin and Sioux City, the Christian Church in Sloan, Morningside and Harlan, the Church of Christ in Holly Springs and Atlantic and Christ’s Church in Harlan. She volunteered to teach many Sunday School classes over the years. Lois passed away on Friday, November 12, 2021 at Avoca Specialty having attained the age of 92 years, 2 months and 16 days. She was preceded in death by her parents Robert and Nellie Wagner; husband Clifton; daughter Nancy; son David; brothers James and Robert Wagner Jr.; sister Mary Hart; two brothers-in-law Leonard Clingenpeel and William Hart; sister-in-law Alice Wagner. Left to cherish her memory are her daughter-in-law Patricia Domina of Norfolk, Nebraska; son Gary (Elena) Domina of Coos Bay, Oregon; son Paul (Karen) Domina of Omaha, Nebraska; daughter Betty Davis of Omaha, Nebraska; 13 grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren; sister Nellie Clingenpeel of Mapleton, Iowa; brother Leo (Marilyn) Wagner of Turin, Iowa; brother Ronald (Barbara) Wagner of Storm Lake, Iowa; sister-in-law Lois (Jim) Brownlee of Sioux City, Iowa; sister-in-law Phyllis (James) LeBarge of Sioux City, Iowa; sister-in-law Dee Kendall of Omaha, Nebraska; brother-in law Melvin (Nancy) Domina of Omaha, Nebraska; a multitude of nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, her Christian Family and a host of friends.