Born November 20, 1940 in Oakdale to Paul Christian George and Clara Alice (Rosenthal) Zacheis, she married Norman Lloyd Thornton.
Surviving are her four children, Jean (Fred) Cowling of Delavan; David (Janeen) Thornton of Dripping Springs, Texas, Joyce (Kevin) Robinson of East Peoria, and Jill (Todd) Highfill of Morton; fifteen grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; one brother, Lloyd Zacheis of Oakdale; and one sister, Launa Giacomo of Lively Grove.
Her parents and two brothers, Harold Zacheis and Lyndon Zacheis, preceded her in death.
Lois was a 1957 graduate of Nashville High School in Nashville, Illinois. She was a bookkeeper for many years, last for the American Red Cross in Peoria.
She was a member of Victorious Life Evangelical Bible Church in East Peoria. She enjoyed sharing her faith in Jesus with other residents while living at Brandonwood Retirement Living and Villas of Holly Brook and Reflections Memory Care of Morton. The family appreciates the supportive staff for their care over these last several years as she endured Parkinson's.
Her funeral will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, November 30, 2021 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. Pastor James Schoonover will officiate. Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will be at Victorious Life Evangelical Bible Church Cemetery in East Peoria.
Memorial contributions may be made to Victorious Life Evangelical Bible Church, Post Office 423, Morton, Illinois 61550.
To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com
