Sister Lois Reichert, OSM

Sister Lois Reichert, OSM, age 86, died peacefully on Feb. 5, 2026, at Care & Rehab in Ladysmith, WI.

Lois Margaret Reichert was born on June 16, 1939, in Stanley, WI, to Joseph and Mildred (Caan) Richert, the ninth of eleven children. She attended St. Bernard School in Thorp, WI, and Our Lady of Sorrows High School in Ladysmith, where she was taught by Servite Sisters.

She initially entered the Servants of Mary in 1956 but stepped away for a period due to health reasons. Upon her return, she received the name Sister Mary Luanne and began her novitiate on June 19, 1961. She professed her first vows in 1962 and her final vows in 1968.

Sister Lois earned a BS in elementary education and English, along with a BA in psychology and business management, from Mount Senario College, and teaching certificates in English and psychology from Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College (WITC).

Throughout her eight-year teaching career, she served in several elementary schools staffed by the Servants of Mary, including St. Rose of Lima (Roseville, MN), St. Domitilla (Hillside, IL), St. Thomas the Apostle (St. Paul, MN), and Annunciata (Chicago, IL).

In 1970, she returned to Ladysmith, where she transitioned into social services and community support. Her diverse local contributions included work at Rusk County Social Services, Rusk County Pharmacy, Time Out Family Abuse Shelter, and the Northwest Family Center. Additionally, she shared her expertise as a communications instructor at WITC and remained active in the community as a Cub Scout leader and a volunteer at the Servite Center for Life gift shop.

Even as her memory faded, she held tight to the verses her mother had taught her, often reciting her favorite, Karle Wilson Baker’s “Let Me Grow Lovely Growing Old.” Between her spontaneous songs and a wit that never dimmed, she became a beloved fixture at Care & Rehab, constantly delighting both the staff and her fellow residents.

Sister Lois is survived by her sister, Jeanette Baldizon of Hacienda Heights, CA; her brother, Robert (Jaynne) Reichert of Richmond Hills, GA; many nieces, nephews, and friends, and the Servite Sisters, with whom she shared life for over 60 years.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Mildred; her brothers, Donald, Melvin, Fr. James OSB, James’ infant twin, and William Reichert; and her sisters, Marilyn, Marjorie Dallas, and Doris McDermott.

Sister Lois will be remembered for her multifaceted spirit—as a teacher, a counselor, and a dedicated community servant—and for her unwavering commitment to the people of Ladysmith. Her life was a testament to the Servite mission of compassionate presence.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 17, at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Ladysmith, with Father Ed Anderson officiating. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. in the church. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery.

Memorials may be sent to Servants of Mary, P.O. Box 389, Ladysmith, WI 54848.

Complete obituaries will also be published in the Ladysmith News and Superior Catholic Herald.