Lois E. Calhoun

Lois Elizabeth Lindsey Calhoun of Rockford passed away on Oct. 25 at the age of 96. 

Born July 28, 1927, in Rochelle to Nellie & Elmer Lindsey, she spent her early years on the family farm, and attended schools near and in Oregon. Lois graduated from Iowa State University in home economics education and LaVarenne Ecole de Cuisine in Paris, France. She taught in Belle Plaine, IA, Rochelle, and Rockford for a total of 15 years. Cuisine de Lois was the business she developed in which she gave cooking demonstrations throughout northern IL, led many cuisine tours in France, and taught French Cuisine classes at Rock Valley College’s adult evening school.

Lois was active in many organizations. She was president of Newcomers in Sterling, Colonial Dames, and Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumni in Rockford. Other organizations were the Mendelson Club, Daughter of the American Revolution, Lyric Opera, International Association of Culinary Professionals, National Home Economics Association, Clan Lindsey, Huguenot Society, Opera Guild, American Association of University Women, and Second Congregational Church. Researching and collecting family history was a favorite pastime. She enjoyed world travel, eating gourmet French food, and planning family vacations. Lois and her companion, George (Wally) Gayle, had more than 20 years together sharing, friends, family, travel, fine dining and laughter.

In 1951, Lois married veterinarian Edward E. Calhoun (1924-1973). Their children are Debora (David) Gulbrandsen of Pecatonica, Sharon Thayer, Patricia Farland (Bryan) of IA, Ronald Calhoun and Sara Powell of CO. Grandchildren are Erik Gulbrandsen, Anna Blazer, Ehrinn Fairchild, Richard Thayer, Jessica Lollio, Joyce Farland, Riley Perkins, and Allison Powell. She has seven great grandchildren and one great, great granddaughter. Lois is survived by her sister Margaret Adams, brother Richard Lindsey, and companion George (Wally) Gayle.

A memorial to honor Lois’s life will be at Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, Riverside Chapel, at 3910 N. Rockton Avenue at 1:00 PM on June 7, 2024.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Franklin Grove Area Historical Society to help continue Lois’s passionate work preserving the Lindsey-Sullivan 1860 Salt Box House which she donated in 1996.