Lois “Lou” Fossen, 92

Lois “Lou” Fossen, of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, passed away at home on Aug. 21, 2026, at the age of 92.

Lou was born June 16, 1934, in Riverton, Minnesota, the daughter of Martin Nelson and Agnes “Peggy” Nelson (LeMieur). Lou had a great appreciation for her childhood with loving, supportive parents and two wonderful sisters. She was a social child, learning early the value of meaningful relationships and sustaining lifelong friendships. She graduated from Crosby High School in Minnesota in 1952.

While attending a friend’s party, Lou met Richard “Dick” Fossen and fell in love. They married June 19, 1954, in Crosby, Minnesota. They moved to Minneapolis, where Lou worked while Dick attended college. After Dick’s graduation in 1956, they moved to Stevens Point, where Lou worked several years in the Washington School library and later worked as an administrative assistant at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in the departments of Natural Resources and Sociology.

In Stevens Point, Lou and Dick raised three children and their years were filled with neighborhood gatherings and family outings. In true Lou fashion, she cultivated and cherished many friendships with neighbors and coworkers. After retiring from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Lou and Dick pursued their love of travel with favorite trips to Hawaii (including a family 50th anniversary trip) and exploring the U.S. They wintered in Destin, Florida, where they spent many years among friends, old and new. They cherished time in Minocqua and Chicago with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and trips back to Minnesota to visit family and friends.

Lou loved her family and community. She eagerly lent a hand with childcare for her many grandchildren, volunteered as an election judge, and was active in supporting Pacelli High School and St. Stanislaus (Holy Spirit) Church. Lou’s heart also held a spot for her Stevens Point home where she lived and loved for 63 years. She faithfully tended to her house and yard, mowing her lawn until age 90. She eagerly awaited every spring, when she planted her favorite flowers in her many flower beds. Lou was an avid reader and enjoyed participating in book clubs and Bible study. She kept abreast of local and national news, and appreciated discussing the news of the day. She is remembered as a kind, insightful and welcoming woman, as well as a loving and supportive mother, grandmother, great-grandmother (GG), aunt and friend.

Lou is survived by her daughter, Nancy (Mark) Gross of Stevens Point; her sons, Richard Fossen (Nancy Brilowski) of Minocqua, Wisconsin, and John Fossen (Bernadette Laszewski) of Glen Ellyn, Illinois; eight grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Lou was preceded in death by her husband, Dick; her parents, Martin and Agnes Nelson; and sisters, Donnette “Donnie” Jordan and Geraldine “Geri” Perovich.

For those wishing to express their sympathies, the family kindly requests in lieu of flowers, memorials be made in Lou’s honor to First Book.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 2151 Stanley St., Stevens Point. Friends and family are invited to gather and share memories at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of service. Burial will follow at Guardian Angel Cemetery in Stevens Point.