Lois Vearl (Stephenson) Niehaus-Wrightsman passed away Mon. April 25, 2022 in Arab, Alabama after a long illness.
Memorial Services for Lois will be 2 pm, Saturday, July 16, 2022, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. She was born on Feb. 17, 1934 in Bloomington, Indiana to Katherine (Stickles) & Paul Stephenson.
She graduated from Anderson College and was a teacher for most of her life.
She earned a Master’s Degree in Social Work from University of Kansas and worked in Topeka, KS hospitals and the Veteran’s Administration. She returned to KU to complete her Master’s Degree in Special Education and resumed teaching at Piper High School before retirement. She continued with private tutoring in Corpus Christi, Texas after retiring.
She was a life-long advocate for Huntington’s Disease research and funding, continuing with initiatives and legislation in both the U.S.Congress and the State of Kansas.
Education was a passion for her (as well as music) and she was always thrilled to see the “light-bulb” of understanding flash ‘On’ for anyone!
She married Ormand ‘Bud’ Niehaus and had two sons. They were divorced & she later married Dr. Lawrence Wrightsman and they divorced. Bud and Larry are deceased. She is also predeceased by her parents and stepmother Ethel, brother Paul Jr., sister Margarite, and son Steven Niehaus.
She is survived by her twin sister Ruth, brothers Joe and Tom, and son Ted.
Special thanks to her assistant in Arab, Regina and the staff of the Diversacare Memory Care Unit – particularly Tim, Laura, Marygina & Becky. Thanks to Shepherd’s Grove Hospice staff, and the care they provided.
Memorial contributions in her memory can be made to the Huntington’s Disease Society of America or any Alzheimer’s/Dementia organizations or charities of donor’s choice and sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1260 Lawrence, Kansas 66044.
