Lois Huth, nee Palmer

Lois Huth

Lois Palmer Huth 1917 – 2020

Childhood never really left Lois. Many think that’s said because of her long career sculpting children in clay in a myriad of childhood activities and poses. But to see her parasailing and zip-lining in her mid-90’s and hot air ballooning at 100 confirms her hold on never quite giving up anything. Every single adventure was marked by a broad smile and a daring twinkle in her eye.

On August 26, Lois Palmer Huth, passed away after over a century of bringing joy, hope, creativity, and humor to anyone on Earth fortunate enough to have known or encountered her.

What Lois, who was often affectionately called Lolo or Weird Lois by friends and family, packed into her near-103 years was amazing. Born Lois Palmer, she was the youngest child and second daughter of Flora and Charles Palmer.

She was born in the dining room of the Cicero home she lived in most of her life. She met Kenny, her husband-to-be, at J. Sterling Morton High School. Not long after, she and her parents and two brothers (plus her kitten) packed up the family Studebaker and truck and amid the chaos of the Great Depression, moved to Spooner, WI where they built a summer resort, Lake Lipsie Pines, on 80 acres of completely undeveloped forested property on the shores of Lake Lipsie.

In her late teens, she returned to Cicero to attend and graduate from The School of the Art Institute in Chicago. In 1939, she and Ken married, and within a decade the Cicero home where she was born soon bustled with three boys to keep her busy, Michael (Mick), Jonathan (Jon), and Lindsay.

Ken built a studio in the garage after her creativity in ceramics began. By 1950, Lois’ focus on sculpting children began and within the decade she became widely noted for her talents. Her creative sculping ideas were without end and by age 98 when she was forced to retire due to declining vision, she had produced well over 8,000 unique works. During the years she sculpted, she and Ken participated in hundreds of juried art fairs across the country and she won numerous awards and recognitions for her work.

As if three children and her prolific art career were not enough, Lois and Ken fostered 12 addition children over the years. These children of varied ages, races, and backgrounds each brought her and the family joy, then heartache upon leaving. More importantly, they provided these young kids an opportunity to experience love, family life, and new tomorrows.

While juggling her sons and foster children, Lois also found time to volunteer. She was a regular for Meals on Wheels, The Chicago Food Depository, Morton Scholarship League, and served on the board of Cicero Family Service and Mental Health Center. She won many service awards, including Humanitarian of the Year in 2002 from the SRCA, a community for adults with disabilities.

In 1978 she and Ken acquired a small cabin on the shores of Lake Michigan near Shelby, Michigan, and it would become their summer home-away-from-home. Dubbed ‘Air Pocket,’ it was heaven for them. The area, called Little Point Sable, was filled with many generations of families to whom it was also their heaven. Lois and Ken quickly established another set of roots there. With assistance, she was able to spend time there every year until her 102nd.

Kenny died in 2002, but serendipitously, that same year, her side of the family began bi-annual family reunions, and she savored every single one through 2018.

Born September 19, 1917, Lois lived through 18 presidents, a Great Depression, the advent of space travel, but certainly not as simply an observer. She lived fully and vivaciously with love, caring and passion.

Lois is survived by her sons, Michael (Patricia), Jonathan (Grace), and Lindsay, six grandchildren, Laura (Tom) Huth-Rhoades, Caroline Haley, Jason Huth, Kate (Branden) Alcanter, Erin Santilli, and Austen Huth. She also has four great-grandchildren, Mollie Santilli, Addison and Mason Alcantar, and Marshall Haley.

In the spirit of making the world and the lives of others better, the family asks that if you wish to commemorate Lois’ life and legacy, tribute gifts can be made to: Smile Train, PO Box 96231, Washington, D.C. 20090-6231 www.my.smiletrain.org; or Southern Poverty Law Center, 400 Washington Avenue, Montgomery, AL 36104   at www.splcenter.org.

Due to Covid 19- Family is choosing to have Services and Interment Private. Memorial Service will be held at a future date.

Arrangements entrusted to Hitzeman Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 9445 West 31st Street, Brookfield, IL 60513

Information www.HitzemanFuneral.com or 708-485-2000

For those of you that would like to express your condolences to the family, please click on the link below and you can leave the family a message. If you wish to send a Sympathy Card to the Family, please feel free to send it to Hitzeman Funeral Home, 9445 West 31st Street, Brookfield, IL 60513, c/o the Lois Palmer Huth Family. We will gladly forward it on to the Family.

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Messages of Condolence

  1. Mel Boynton condolence:

    Lois and Ken became pillars of the Little Point Sable Community. They were enthusiastic participants in worship, hymn sings and social gatherings until the end of their lives. Lois’s sculptures grace many homes and cottages, including ours. Her selfless giving and storytelling will never be forgotten. Our hearts go out to all the family.


  2. Jan and Don Hines condolence:

    Lois had a wonderful sense of humor and a sparkle that everyone loved. She will be missed but memories of her will linger through her sweet sculptures that many of us are fortunate enough to own.


  3. Greg and Karin Hoover condolence:

    So sorry for your loss. Your mother was an amazing and talented person. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.


  4. Jill Antani RUMC condolence:

    I only met Lois once a couple of years ago, we had a long chat, what a wealth of information she was! A lovely lady.
    RIP Lois.


  5. Phyllis Goldenberg condolence:

    I met Lois Huth at an art fair many years ago. I purchased a sculpture at that time & asked her to make one of my 3 young children. She made a beautiful one that is still treasured today. I then purchases another one & I love all of them. I enjoyed talking to Lois & loved her sense of humor that she also brought to her marvelous sculptures. She will be greatly missed. Our prayers are with her family.


  6. Joel and Nancy Justis condolence:

    Wish we could have obtained one more sculpture, of our grandkids. The three we have will always be treasured by us and our kids. Lois was a legend. So sorry, but a life lived to the fullest.


  7. Joan Slater condolence:

    Lois was always such an inspiration for me. I remember visiting her every summer at the Little Point Sable dreaming that some day I could be like her and spend time doing art work. She had such a positive outlook on life and so creative. My condolences to all the family and know that she was loved and will be missed by many.


  8. Joseph R Zeman condolence:

    Mrs Huth was a very special lady to me, especially when she was my Den Mother in the early 50’s. She helped me make a candy dish that I still have to this day She was a very kind and caring Lady. I am glad to have known her. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family.


  9. Judy Eckberg condolence:

    I met Lois at the PAV Y in Berwyn many years ago and enjoyed her love of life and her talent. She invited us to her home in Cicero a couple of times and I loved the house she grew up in. I am so glad she had such a long and glorious life.


  10. Steven R Young condolence:

    In-between the first anniversary of her death and the 104th of her birth, I’m mentioning Lois in my sermon about children this Sunday during the Hart United Methodist Church worship service. Lois attended here when she was in the area, and I was privileged to have met her. Also, we’re so blessed to have one of her sculptures adorning the hallway leading to our sanctuary. It has Jesus’ words, “Let the children come unto me…forbid them not.” Amen.


  11. Russell Bastyr condolence:

    I am sorry for your families loss. As one of the many whose life was touched by your family I am saddened By her passing. I also lost my mother Lillian, 96 on July 19, 2020. My father Albert proceeded her in passing the prior year.

    I send my prayers to your family and will always remember seeing Lois and Kenny attending Morton East Basketball Games, Church Events, and The time my friend was watching their exhibit at the Oak Park Art Fair and I joined him to lend a hand.

    Thank you to Lois, and you her family for the positive influence you all had on my life…


  12. Noemi Galarza condolence:

    I did not have the honor to meet Mrs Huth but the more I learn about her the more I am amazed! Everything I have read is an inspiration and I feel extremely lucky to have one of her sculptures. May she rest in peace.


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