Mary Lois Wagenknecht, Kimberling City,MO, youngest of four siblings, daughter of Charles and Marguerite (Keniry) Kramer.  Was born June 28, 1941 in Waterloo, Iowa and departed this life on December 14, 2021 at the age of 80.

Growing up, Mary Lois really enjoyed being a Mother.  She often told people that was the happiest time of her life.  She helped with Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts and would constantly take the kids everywhere.  Every year her son would partake in RAGBRAI, an annual bike ride across Iowa.  She would drive her son, Drew, and a couple of friends to the western edge of the state to drop them off and would pick them up a week later in eastern Iowa.  Growing up, they had a cabin near Guttenburg, Iowa, where they would spend many weekends and much of the summer. It was on the Mississippi River, and they would spend several weeks every summer camping on the sandbars.  She loved it, loved the heat and loved roughing it.  Of course, no matter what, they had to leave our camp and find a parish nearby and travel by boat to Sunday Mass without fail.  She enjoyed playing tennis and became quite good at it.  She became a full-time teacher's aid for several years.  She was always available to play ping-pong and chess.  Her son had a collection of turtles and snakes, and she would routinely hold the snakes while their cages were being cleaned.  She was a very happy lady during the years her children were growing up.  She and her first husband, divorced about 1984, and she took the children to France for a vacation.  While there they attended a wedding of some friends.  She had a great time in Paris.  She lived in Waterloo, Iowa, until she married Jim Wagenknecht and eventually moved to Kimberling City, MO.

Mary Lois was preceded in death by her parents; her second husband, James Wagenknecht; son, Jeffrey Allen; daughter, Amy Allen; brother, Pat Kramer; sister, Joan Ford and sister, Sr. Dolores Kramer BVM.

Survivors include her son, Drew Allen of Champaign, IL and the many friends she has made in Kimberling City, MO.

Visitation for Mary Lois will be Wednesday, December 22, 2021 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Stumpff Funeral Chapel Kimberling City, MO.  Service will be Thursday, December 23, 2021 at Our Lady of the Cove Catholic Church Kimberling City, MO with Father William Hennecht officiating.  In lieu of flowers the family request donation be made to Tri-Lakes Animal Shelter.  Burial will be in Waterloo, Iowa.

Arrangements are under the direction of Stumpff Funeral Home Kimberling City, MO.