Lois A. Van Severen, 82, a resident of Hope Creek Care Center, East Moline, formerly of Milan, died Wednesday, July 23, 2014 at the center.

Funeral services are 10:00 a.m. on Monday at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Milan. Burial is at the National Cemetery, Arsenal Island. Visitation is 2 to 5 Sunday at the Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home, Milan. Memorials may be made to St. Matthew Lutheran Church or to the Milan Santa Fund.

Lois Cheney was born Sept. 2, 1931 in Joliet, Ill., a daughter of Fred and Anna Wenzel Cheney. She married Peter Schmitz on May 1, 1954 in Rock Island. He died Nov. 10, 1960. Lois married Henry Van Severen on July 6, 1962 in Rock Island. He died Nov. 19, 1996.

Lois had owned and operated with her late husband, Henry, Van's Catering of Milan.

She was a charter member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Milan. Lois was a member of the Milan Woman's Club and was responsible for the Milan Santa Fund for many years, spending countless hours writing replies to the many letters she received for Santa Claus. She and Henry appeared as Santa and Mrs. Claus for many area organizations. Lois was also a member of the Milan American Legion Auxiliary, served on the Milan Indian Summer Festival committee for many years, and was a grand marshal of the Indian Summer Festival Parade.

Survivors include her children, Rick (Sandy) Van Severen, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Joan (Rev. Mark) Etter, Edgewood, KY; Dave (Joyce) Van Severen, Geneseo, Peter (Linda) Schmitz, Cedarburg, Wis., and Robert (Kim) Van Severen, Rock Island; grandchildren, Mike (Amy) Van Severen, Angela (Dustin) Fischer, Melissa (Ken) Luckjohn, Roger Etter, Amanda (Ken) Cihlar, Karen (David) Osenga, Victoria (Chad) Gerber, Julia (Michael) Hurst, Rebecca Van Severen, Allison Van Severen, Tracy (Tye) Schriever and Julie (Rob) Schrader; 14 great-grandchildren; and sister, Florence Goggin, Arlington Heights, Ill. She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands; daughters, Jill Schmitz and Janet Van Severen; and sisters, Beulah Reid, Helen DiMarco and Eleanor Cheney.

Online condolences may be left at wheelanpressly.com.