Alene (Schwarz) Losey

Alene Losey, 90, of Hancock, passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 4, surrounded by her four daughters and family after a battle with congestive heart failure.

Alene was born on April 3, 1927 in Ozone, Arkansas to Herman and Annabell (Ross) Schwarz. She recalled that she and her father were close, and she would often wake up early to assist him with chores and tend to their livestock. On Alene’s 17th birthday, the family boarded a train in Ozone that took them on a four-day journey to Stevens Point, WI. They soon settled in Hancock and began farming once again.

Alene graduated from Hancock High School (now Tri-County) in May 1945 and went to work at Hardware Mutual Insurance (now Sentry Insurance) in downtown Stevens Point.

Alene married Dale on May 24, 1947 on the Schwarz Farm in Hancock. Dale and Alene, along with Dale’s family, lived and worked on the Losey Farm outside of Hancock. Alene and Dale kept the Losey Farm running until the 1970s, when they sold the land and moved into Hancock. They purchased the Hancock Laundromat and operated it for several years until “retiring” when they built a house in the woods. Even in retirement, Alene stayed active while working for many years at the Shepherds Cottage book store in Wautoma.

In the summer of 1957, Alene, Dale, and other family made their first trip to the Canadian wilderness to fish for Walleye. This tradition continued and in July 2017, Alene marked her 60th trip to that same Canadian lake to try to catch ‘the big one’ for a final time. Alene will be remembered for her love of planting flowers which were enjoyed throughout the spring and summer months.

Alene loved to be with her daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She greatly enjoyed attending school performances, sporting events, family celebrations, and especially enjoyed sitting next to a camp fire on summer evenings.

Above all, her greatest legacy is that, from an early age, she impressed upon her daughters the importance of a close and personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Throughout Alene’s life, whenever she faced hardships or difficult times, her strong and steadfast faith always allowed her to find hope and provided the strength continue to move forward. For Alene, she wanted her faith to be evident in her daily life, in the relationships she had, and how she lived her life.

She is survived by her four daughters, Linda Bartram, Hancock, Janice (John) Sierk, Hancock, Marilyn King, Hancock, and Lori (Scott) Erdman, Plainfield. Her 10 grandchildren, Joshua (Kelly Jean) Kemnetz, DeLyn (Wade) Schafer, Zach Kemnetz, Gretchen (Vince) Marshall, Seth (Mallory) Sierk, Rachel (Aaron) Kumferman, Aaron King, Abigail Erdman, Isaac Erdman, Maddison Erdman; and her 11 great-grandchildren.

Additionally, Alene is survived by five of her siblings: Karl (Marcy) Schwarz, Lois (Dick) Klein, Lorene (Don Berry) Allen, Evelyn (Bob) Beggs, and Don (Theresa) Schwarz. She is also survived by her two sister in-laws, Beverly (Dick) Mattie and Elaine (Bill) Baker.

Alene was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 61 years, Dale Losey, her son-in-law, Scott King, close family friend, Art Lynest, her sister, Geneva (Schwarz) Humphry, and her best friend, Shirley Lyle.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, February 10 at 11:00 AM at Stahl Funeral Home, Plainfield, with the Rev. Alan Spitler officiating. A visitation will be held from 9:00 AM until the time of the service. Burial will be held after the service at the Hancock Cemetery.

Although we grieve the loss of Alene, we rejoice now knowing that at this moment, she is with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, where she is experiencing unbounded and everlasting joy.