Lois Darlene Pfohl (Van Buskirk)

Lois Darlene Pfohl, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother died Friday morning February 13, 2015, at the age of 83, in Independence, MO. She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Lee Pfohl, children Bruce (Judy), Sharon (David), and Tim (Julie), grandchildren Lindsay and Michael (Melissa) and great granddaughter Lorelei.
Lois was born and raised in Buffalo, New York on April 16, 1931, the daughter of Harold Van Buskirk a blue collar worker and lay minister in the Community of Christ Church and her mother, Helen Van Buskirk who worked assembling aviation electronics during the war and as a domestic worker earlier in her life. Lois had one sister, June Reid who preceded her in death. At 16 years of age she met her husband, Lee at a church service when he visited her congregation for the first time while on leave from the Navy. Lois and Lee were married shortly after she turned 18 years of age. They became increasingly involved with what is currently the Community of Christ church after Lee was ordained as a lay minister and then soon after he was appointed as a full time missionary. Lois and Lee briefly served the church in Michigan and were later reassigned to church work in Ontario, Canada where they lived for 10 years. They then relocated to Lamoni, Iowa in 1970 when Lee took a position as campus minister of Graceland College and Lois worked as a Departmental Secretary within the college. Lois and Lee relocated to Independence, MO in 1976 when Lee took an assignment working in the newly developed Temple School Program. Lois' experience at Graceland College prepared her for a position in the Placement Office at UMKC, where she helped many grateful education students in the process of applying for their first teaching jobs when they graduated. The church brought them together and remained a central focus of their lives throughout their 65 years of marriage. In 1993 Lee and Lois retired and moved into the Hidden Valley Club retirement community where a number of their church friends already lived. They were active in the community and enjoyed socializing which often took the form of Canasta games. Lois was a beautiful, loving and caring woman who was always alert to the needs of other people and will be greatly missed by her family and friends. Per her wishes cremation will be accorded. The family is planning a private memorial service. An invitation is made to share on-line condolences at www.speakschapel.com. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to outreach-international. (Arrangements: Speaks Suburban Chapel 816-373-3600)