December 28, 1938 – May 11, 2025
On Mother’s Day, May 11, the world bid farewell to a beacon of kindness and grace. Lois Vagnuer, a devoted mother, grandmother, teacher and friend, passed away peacefully, leaving behind a legacy of love, faith, kindness and unwavering strength.
Lois grew up on a dairy farm in upstate New York with her six siblings. Here, her love for animals and the rhythms of a simple, grounded life began. Values of kindness, generosity, faithfulness and love were fortified through Lois’ upbringing. She carried these fundamental values into everything she did, including her life’s calling as an English teacher. Her lessons weren’t just found in lesson plans or textbooks; they were exemplified in the way she lived, in how she listened more than she spoke, and in how she treated every person that entered her life with generosity and understanding. Lois had a rare ability to seek out and focus on the positive in everyone — no matter how hard it was to find. Her life itself was a lesson to all: how to love, how to find the good in any situation, how to be selfless, how to radiate light. She enhanced the lives of all beings she encountered — two-legged and four-legged alike.
Lois was married twice, first to Bud Brownell and later to her cherished rodeo cowboy, Wayne Vagnuer. Lois volunteered faithfully at her church and served on the rodeo board for many years. Though she never competed in a rodeo event, she was a loyal spectator who meticulously recorded the time of every contestant (from slack until “Happy Trails”), and gleefully cheered on her family.
Lois was the heart of her family, a nurturing presence who brought everyone together with warmth and unwavering love. Family was Lois’s most important value and her actions reflected that. She is survived by her sister, Kay Thompson; daughter, Belinda Brownell; and grandchildren: Dani and Wylie Brownell and Jake and Tye Wedhorn. Her gentle spirit and unwavering love will continue to inspire all who knew her.
A celebration of life will be held in September. All who knew Lois are warmly invited to attend and honor her legacy. For more information, please email cnm.dani@gmail.com