Lois M. Cipalo

Lois Marquerite (Philippi) Cipalo, 91, passed into our Lord’s arms on June 21, 2026 at Hawkeye Care Facility in Dubuque, Iowa.

Visitation will be at held from 9:30 to 10:30 AM Saturday, June 27, 2026 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Streator, Illinois with the service following at 10:30 AM. Burial will be in Riverview Cemetery in Streator, Illinois. Hagi & Schultz Funeral Home, Streator, Illinois is in charge of arrangements.

Lois was born on November 5, 1934, in Bruning, Nebraska, to Frederick M. and Laura E. (Springer) Philippi. She attended high school in Bruning, Nebraska, and then attended Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, where she received her elementary education degree. Later, she received her M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Minnesota and a certificate for Rehabilitation Administration from DePaul University in Illinois. On August 22, 1970, she married Michael (Clem) Cipalo of Blue Island, Illinois, in Muscatine, Iowa. He passed away on March 1, 1999.

Professionally from 1957 to 1968, Lois was an elementary parochial teacher in Deshler, Nebraska; Blue Island, Illinois, and Waverly, Iowa. From 1968 to 1969, she was an elementary curriculum editor for Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis, Minnesota. From 1969 to 1970, Lois was a student teacher supervisor for the University of Minnesota. From 1971 to 1973, she was an associate editor for Lyons & Carnahan Publishing Co., Chicago. From 1974 to 1998, Lois was Executive Director for Blue Island Citizens for Persons with Developmental Disabilities, Inc. (Blue Cap) in Illinois where she was a strong advocate for persons with disabilities at both a local and state level. She was honored by Blue Cap in 1989 for her many years of service to this organization.

Also, Lois served her community and church. She was a United Way Ambassador; a member of the Blue Island Community Council and served as a chairperson on the advisory council; a member of the State of Illinois Council for Early Intervention; Mainstreet, Blue Island as president and other roles; St. Francis Hospital Divisional Board as vice president and other functions; church organist; choir director for children and adults; tutoring children at the church and in public schools. She was an active member in Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, a professional organization for women educators that promotes personal and professional growth and excellence in education, and served as their president for four years. Lois and her husband were involved with the American Scandinavian Student Exchange for many years. They hosted exchange students from Sweden, Finland, Germany, Portugal, and Iceland. During these active years, she received the South Suburban Woman of the Year Award.

Lois had many interests. Some of those were traveling, music (piano, organ, voice) and gardening flowers and vegetables.

In September, 2014, Lois moved to Dubuque to be closer to Ernest’s (her brother’s) children who offered to provide care as she aged.

Survivors include sisters-in-law, Gertrude Stansbury and Muriel Cipalo. Also, Lois had many nieces and nephews who loved their Aunt Lois and have many special memories of her personal involvement in their lives. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Ernest and Leon Philippi, and a sister, Elda Philippi.