Loisa Rhode

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, October 8, at the United Methodist Church in Atwater.  In the spirit of Loisa, those attending her service are asked to wear red, which was Loisa's favorite color. Interment will be at Union Cemetery in Atwater.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Atwater Public Library will be most welcome and dear to Loisa's heart. Arrangements are with Peterson Brothers Atwater Funeral Home in Atwater.

Louisa Day Rhode was born February 9, 1913, in Winona, Minnesota, the daughter of Lyman and Edith (Daine) Day.  She was baptized in the Presbyterian faith in Winona.  The family later moved to Litchfield where she was confirmed at First Presbyterian and graduated from Litchfield High School.  On February 14, 1937, she married Charles "Chuck" Rhode.  They made their home in Atwater and later lived on Diamond Lake, in Willmar and in Minneapolis before returning to Atwater.

Loisa was a colorful personality, creative, and had a number of interesting jobs and she relished telling memorable stories about all of them. She and Chuck managed the Atwater Theater for a number of years, she worked at the telephone office in Atwater, and later for Willmar Poultry for several years.

Loisa was a member of the United Methodist Church in Atwater and was active in the Ladies Circle.  She was also a member of the Minnesota Mayflower Society, the Atwater Senior Citizens Club and a charter member and past president of the Atwater Area Historical Society.

Loisa was an avid reader and loved the Atwater Public Library and its librarian, Linda Behm. She lived independently until her 99th year and for her 100th birthday she wanted to ride a horse. And she did! She lived her long life with joy and a very keen sense of humor. She cherished her family and her friends.

She is survived by a nephew, Tom Graham of Colorado; and two nieces, Janet Wittman of Arizona and JoAnn Sauber of Louisiana. The entire family including five grand nieces and nephews and four great grand nieces and nephews will miss their Aunt Loisa and all her stories.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Charles Rhode in 1970; a brother, Daine Day; and a sister, Joyce Graham.

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