Lois Barnes Ashley Wendt

Lois Barnes Ashley Wendt died peacefully on November 8, 2023, at Bickford Senior Living, in Aurora, Illinois, at the age of 91. Formerly of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, Lois was born on June 7, 1932, in Columbus, Ohio, to Helen Newton and Lyle Harris Barnes. She grew up with her 2 older brothers, Jack, and Bruce, who liked to call her “Sister” instead of Lois. The Barnes were a happy family who loved camping out West and the Buckeyes. As a Camp Fire girl, and later a Camp Counselor, Lois spent many happy summer retreats at Camp W­­­­yandot in Southern Ohio.

After graduating from The Ohio State University with a B.A., Lois was a young businesswoman at Ohio Edison and then Westinghouse Electric Corporation where she was a Home Economist. She enjoyed travel for work and pleasure before she met and married S. Mark Ashley. They raised three girls in Wauwatosa and cherished their summers in Rockport, MA.  Always active, Lois was involved in many community activities, including Circle 7 through the First Congregational Church of Wauwatosa, where she was a member since 1969.  She was a Sunday School Teacher, Brownie Leader, talented seamstress and cook. Lois was the perfect hostess and knew how to throw a great party!  When the girls were in middle school, Lois returned to the workforce and retired in 1997.

While volunteering through the church, Lois met Kenneth W. Wendt in 2001. They married in 2004, and enjoyed socializing, traveling, the theater, and a friendly rivalry between the Wisconsin Badgers and the Ohio State Buckeyes. 

Lois was a beautiful, bright, positive, strong woman with a fun personality. She was gracious, selfless, and always grateful for life’s blessings. Lois was supportive and always put others before herself. She had a wonderful sense of humor, loved to laugh, and was a talented storyteller. Most dear to Lois was the time spent with family and friends. She was a loving mother, a devoted daughter, sister, aunt, grandmother, wife, and friend. Lois was an inspiration to her children and will always live in the hearts of her loved ones.

Lois is survived by her three daughters, Margaret (Meg) Davis (William [Trip]), Elizabeth (Beth) Czekaj (Kenneth), and Catherine (Cate) Stellmach (Korey), and grandchildren, Sarah, Anna (Alex), Julia, Jake, and Haley, and great grandchildren Raven, Luna, and Felix. She is also survived by her brother, Lyle Bruce Barnes (Neila), nieces and nephews, her late husband’s family, and friends.  

She is pre-deceased by husband, Kenneth Wayne Wendt, her brothers Robert Lyle Barnes, and John William Barnes, and ex-husband, Sheridan Mark Ashley.

A memorial service will take place at the Indianola Presbyterian Church, 1970 Waldeck Ave. Columbus, Ohio 43201 on Monday, November 27, 2023. A family graveside service will take place afterwards at Union Cemetery in Columbus, OH, where Lois will be buried with her parents. Those wishing to remember Lois may send a contribution to the First Congregational Church of Wauwatosa http://www.firstchurchtosa.org  or the Alzheimer’s Association http://www.alz.org.