Lois Jean Cooling

Lois Jean (Malatek) Cooling was born November 24, 1942, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Lois lived in Ely, Iowa, since she was 2 years old. She was always surrounded by her loving family and the small-town Ely friends who were part of her life for so many years. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, June 23, 2025, at Brosh Chapel and The Avacentre in Cedar Rapids, located at 2121 Bowling Street SW. Celebration of Life service will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at St. John Lutheran Church, Ely. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery, Solon.

She graduated from Prairie High School in 1961. Lois married Lloyd Cooling on September 19, 1961. They were married for 56 wonderful years and lived almost all of those years in Ely. She loved living in Ely and seeing old and new neighbors out and about and always enjoyed chatting. Lois was the first female to be elected to the Ely Town Council. Lois worked for Collins Radio, College Community as a cook, Ellison Insurance in Solon, Lisbon Insurance, and for her very special son-in-law, Mark, at Mark Brown Law Office. Later on, Lois and Lloyd, also loved working side by side with their beloved son Kevin and daughter-in-law Sue, at his Crown Trophy Store in Cedar Rapids. She also was happy to help and work at St. Jude’s School as a substitute cook in the kitchen.

What Lois loved most was being with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, hearing the sounds of laughter and game playing, and seeing the kids look through the fridge and cupboards for the special toys and treats she always had on hand. Having the carpet covered with toys and lots of chatter brought a smile to her face! She loved spending time with all of her extended family and especially hosting Thanksgiving Dinner, and other holidays, to make sure everyone was together and enjoying the time laughing and having fun. She was so proud that our families always still got together on both sides, to celebrate whether it was going to someone's home, or going to the LeGrand Log Cabin. Lois loved going on trips and traveling to see interesting things, making sure everyone had a good time: like the yearly July vacations she planned every year when her children were younger and still fondly remember, to driving up to the apple orchards in Wisconsin, or stopping by the casino, historic museums, or just taking a car ride to look around. She loved taking care of her house and lawn and was proud of keeping everything looking great! She loved to clean.

Mom wanted everyone to feel good about life and wanted everyone to enjoy each day. One of her final wishes was to tell everyone that, "Each day is a gift". She lived her life that way, easy or tough, she made each day special.

She is survived by and will be dearly missed by her children: Jackie (Mark) Brown of Cedar Rapids, and Kim Cooling of Ely. Grandchildren: Nick and Cassie Cooling of Des Moines, Chris and Becca Cooling of Des Moines, Lauren and Carter Ives of Cedar Rapids, Colin Brown of Des Moines, and Morgan Brown and Toliver Freeman of North Carolina. Her great grandsons Miller, Hayes, Carter, Corbin, and Calvin Cooling all of Des Moines. Her beloved sisters Sheryl (Allen) Tjelmeland of Ely, Sue (Jess) Schulte of Ely, the late Tom Malatek (Patricia) of Ely, and loving brother Patrick Malatek (Gloria deceased) of Ely. Sisters and brothers in law: Ruthie Cooling of Garwin, Janice Cooling, Lyle and Joyce Cooling of Solon, Margaret and Dick Hajek of Solon, Duane and Deb Cooling of Dillion, and LouAnn Cooling of LeGrand, and a special place in her heart for all of her nieces and nephews that she loved so very dearly.

She was preceded in death by her husband Lloyd, her son Kevin and his wife Sue, her parents Bob and Marian Malatek, her brother Tom Malatek, and so very many special sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.

Lois will be an angel in Heaven watching over and taking care of all of us,... like she always has.

We want to thank all of the people at the PCI oncology, Dr. Rasa Buntinas, and all of the loving and special nurses at the Chemotherapy Treatment Center who took care of her with all their hearts.

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