Lois Elaine Schwanke went home peacefully and most joyfully to meet her dear Savior on Saturday, April 2nd, 2016. Lois was born on March 3, 1932 at Chapman Court in New Britain. She married her husband of 56 years, Walter H. Schwanke, and moved to Newington where she lived the rest of her life. She worked part-time at the Rare Reminder and Shoe Center, but her career was raising her children. Lois leaves "but for a moment" her four children and their spouses: Karen Bayliff of Newington, David and Merrilee Schwanke of Wilton, NH, Paul and Cathy Schwanke of Phoenix, AZ, and Stephen and Glenda Schwanke of Spring Hill, TN. She had 22 Grandchildren scattered over the USA, whom she loved, counseled and guided throughout their lives: Karily, Janna, Bethany, Bradley, Barnabas, Stephen, Timothy, Amy, April, Katie, Andrew, Kristie, Kelly, Sam, Laura, Lacey, Benjamin, Becky, Timothy, Rachel, Rebekah and Daniel. She had 22 Great-Grandchildren, with more to come! She also leaves her sister, Marian Anderson, of Newington. Lois had a host of dear friends and neighbors, "fellow-laborers" at her church, hundreds of ladies whose lives she touched through the "Christian Ladies Seminars" at Emmanuel Baptist Church, but there were none more important to her than the children who sat in her Good News Clubs and Sunday School classes for more than 50 years. When "Mrs. Schwanke" opened up her Bible, she introduced those children to Jesus Christ in the most captivating and compelling way. Whether pointing the way of Salvation through "Barney's Barrel", or teaching how to live for Christ with "Sunday School Charlie", she was truly a "Teacher Extraordinaire." Lois Schwanke truly lived what she believed, and Proverbs 31 says it best: "A woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised." Relatives and friends are invited to attend a memorial service on Wednesday, April 6th at 4:00 p.m. at the Emmanuel Baptist Church, 296 New Britain Ave., Newington. The Newington Memorial Funeral Home, 20 Bonair Ave., Newington is in care of arrangements. Memorial donations in Lois' memory made be made to Emmanuel Baptist Church Sunday School Program, 296 New Britain Ave., Newington, CT 06111. To share a message of sympathy with her family, please visit us at www.newingtonmemorial.com

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Published by Hartford Courant on Apr. 4, 2016.

Memories and Condolences
for Lois Schwanke

Sponsored by the family.

22 Entries

Yvonne Kauppinen

March 27, 2021

Remembering my special friend and mentor with love and fond memories; especially the day she went home to heaven and of the beautiful double rainbow that appeared in the sky. Every time I see a rainbow it reminds me of Lois and her ever present smile and joy that was founded in Jesus. Miss her,

Mary Gaul

December 14, 2019

Karen so sorry for you loss. She was a wonderful lady.

Bobbi Banker

April 7, 2016

Prayers and condolences to the Schwanke family. My thoughts and prayers go out to each of you. May you find God's comfort as the days go by. Psalms 121 Sincerely, Bobbi Banker

Norm & Anita Ericson Amazing Grace Mission

April 7, 2016

Our sincere sympathy to all the Schwanke family. We met Lois (and Walt) in 1972 when we first started our Christian walk and she has always been such a Godly example of a Christian wife and Mom. Our children loved being in Lois' Sunday school classes. She made learning the Bible so much fun. Lord bless you all-praying for you.

April 7, 2016

I am writing to offer my sincere condolences. When Karen and I were at the old Southeast Elementary School in Newington, she invited me to an after school church school that her mother had at their house. That outreach had a lasting effect on me. Thank you to Mrs. Schwanke for organizing that faith group for children, and thank you to Karen for inviting me to participate.
Sincerely,
Beth Ann Loveland Sennett

Tracy Landry

April 6, 2016

Praying for your family. I'm so sorry for your loss.

Roger & Linda Dunne

April 4, 2016

Our sincere sympathy to all of Lois' children and grandchildren. We remember Lois and all of her family from 1987 to 2002 while we were at Emmanuel. She was an inspiration and a great example of how the Lord would want us all to be.I was in her Sunday School class for many years and she was a great teacher. Looking forward to seeing her in heaven.God bless you all.

Donald Anderson

April 4, 2016

Grew up with Lois in Eastside of New Britain. Great neighborhood. Great teenager and a greater person as the year passed. Our loss, heavens gain. The journey is over, now life begins. Enjoy

John & Julie Karas

April 4, 2016

Lois was great woman of God! She and her husband Walt had a tremendous influence on us as new Christians in the late 70's. We will never forget how real they made the Bible to us. God Bless their wonderful family. Lois & Walt will greet many, many souls in heaven who they personally introduced to Christ!

Christopher Adams

April 4, 2016

The Schwanke Family has left an indelible on so many children of God. The first gospel preacher and message I ever heard less than a week after I became a born again child of God in 1983 was from Evangelist Paul at Emmanuel Gospel Church. The third person I ever met at Emmanuel was Bro. Walt. The first Sunday school teacher I met there was Sis. Lois. She was the person who God used to help me become a Sunday School Teacher there from 83-88 working in the classroom of Sis. Carole Dionne in the room next door. Sis Lois was indeed a master teacher and I am sure that the multitude of precious young people who sat under her teaching would testify the same. And I am sure that she is now in scenes of glory singing that new song. It will be the old, old story that she has loves so long. Amen! <3 Rev. Christopher P. Adams, Chaplain of Adelbrook The Children's Home, Cromwell, CT and Pastor of Bethlehem Covenant Church, Worcester, MA.. The Singing Chaplain

April 4, 2016

To the children of Lois Schwanke you have my deepest sympathy in the loss of your mother.George and I had great times with her and your father. I am so happy I got to see her when I was in Connecticut. I went to the hospital to see her before I came back to Florida. When I walked into her room she said I knew if you were here you would come and see me. We had a good visit. All our sympathy, George and Darolyn

Yvonne Kauppinen

April 4, 2016

My sincere condolences to Karen, Paul, David and Stephen and all the family. Praying for you all. How we will all miss "the Queen" as she was affectionately known in her circle of friends. Her love for Jesus and the children she taught throughout the years was evident by so many coming back to her as adults and telling her how much they appreciated her in Sunday School. I thank the Lord for the privilege of serving with her for many years in her Sunday School class. She taught me so much about the Lord and she will always have a special place in my heart, along with so many others who have been touched by her joyful spirit. I will miss my "spiritual" mom and mentor dearly. Looking forward to seeing her again someday!

Ronald Simard

April 4, 2016

I met Lois back in the early Seventies at Emmanuel Gospel. I had worked at Stanley with Walt and became a member of the Church then for a couple of years.
She was a great blessing to all who knew her and she is now graduated to her place with Jesus. May her family rejoice in the knowledge that she is in Heaven.
Psalms:116:15: Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

Juan & Felicia Bernal

April 4, 2016

Our prayers are going up for all here on earth who love this dear sister in Christ , but rejoice also as she is welcomed to her real home in Heaven.

Julie Graff

April 4, 2016

I had the priviledge to attend the ladies fellowship for many years and more to come.....Lois was the light of that fellowship ....she touched every woman's life that came....she truely was an extraordinaire christian!!

Julie

Dave & JoAnn Tessmann

April 4, 2016

What sweet memories of a wonderful lady of God. Her life was an example to all . May the Lord encourage and strengthen her family. - Dave & Joann Tessmann

john scully

April 4, 2016

May we add our condolences to the family of Lois Schwanke.. God Bless you all. John Scully

Mike Kathy Raymond

April 4, 2016

Oh how she Loved our Lord, you could see it when she taught in sunday school. She would give it all to teach the children about Him and prayed to see them come to the saving knowledge of Him. We are praying for you all and wish that we could be there,
David, Paul, Stephen, Karen, and all the grandchildren, we are praying for you and thank the Lord that we got to know your Mom and Dad, they were great influence to Kathy and I.
Love and Prayers Mike and Kathy Raymond. Prov. 31:10 And as Walt always said Pslams 118:24

Newington Memorial Funeral Home Duksa Family Funeral Homes

April 4, 2016

With deepest sympathy during your time of mourning.

Herb Jones

April 3, 2016

We are sad to hear of the home going of Mrs. Schwanke. She was such a great lady who loved the Lord and was a tremendous testimony to all of us but especially the ladies. She will be missed but is Heaven's gain

Mary Colby Reynolds

April 3, 2016

My condolences to the family. She was a true example of a Christian Woman

Ralph and Sydney Wingate

April 3, 2016

What a blessing she was to our family. We appreciate her influence on our boys, who both love the Lord and have raised their families to do the same. She now rejoices with Walt where her faith has been made sight.

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