Louise"Lou" Wakehouse

Louise or Lou (as she preferred), Joan Wakehouse, 91, of Show Low, Arizona, passed peacefully on July 13, 2025.

A funeral service will be held at 1:00 P.M. Friday, August 1, 2025 at the Little Sioux Church of Christ, 405 Mulberry Street, Little Sioux, Iowa with Pastor Wayne Bahr, officiating. Burial will follow in the Soldier Valley Cemetery, Pisgah, Iowa. Following the burial, everyone is invited to enjoy desserts and refreshments at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Goslar Funeral Home and Monuments, Onawa, Iowa.

One of the most wonderful, precious, enjoyable woman you would ever meet in this universe. She had the strength of a giant, the courage of a lion, the protection of a mama bear, the love and compasstion to endevor the hardships throughout her long, eventful, life.

She was born September 17, 1933 on the farm in Turin, Iowa, with the help of a midwife. Asa and Blanche ( Jones) Johnston’s 3rd baby. Life on the farm was hard, she enjoyed her siblings and many memories of the antics they would get into. When she meet the love of her life, they were engaged, and were planning a wedding....her fiance was facing the draft and they had to make quick decisions. They were married, Nov 10, 1952 just 6 days before he left for Korea. She had the faith and love to bring him home. “That’s true Love”, she said.

They had a fantastic life. Travel, Friends, Family, Community, Love of Life, Faith in the Lord and of course, True Love.

Lou & Don were finally blessed with the birth of their daughter, Dawn Renee, in 1960. The bond of Mother/Daughter is one of devotion & protective respect, love & pride. She was a very devoted and loving mother that was always there for her daughter, or a friend in need, all were welcome with open arms.

She also thew a few 300’s on her bowling teams, cheered for the Denver Broncos (good times & bad), she was also inventivly passionate regarding women rights. She was very involved with the American Business Womens Association for many decades. ABWA is a national association that provide sholorships and resources for women in business. After retireing from Air Line Pilots Association, as Executive Secretary of the Denver Field Office, she kept busy with family and friends.

She loved to travel, they had an RV, and traveled throughout the country, meeting strangers and leaving friends. They were blessed by the birth of their first grandson, Erik & wanted to move to Arizona. Another blessed grandson, Jake. So they bought a home, in a wonderful, loving community in Show Low, Arizona.

She was praised for & loved to make the most scrumptious Peanut Brittle! Every Christmas, not a sole was forgotten. Games kept her sharp, a great teacher of trivia, card games, dominoes, board games, crosswords; an extremely intellegent challenger.

She is survived by her daughter, Dawn (Wakehouse) Alcumbrac; and her grandsons, Erik Alcumbrac and Jake Alcumbrac, who will forever carry her memory in their heart and soul. 

Lou was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Donald Wakehouse; her siblings, Howard Johnston, Helen Behr, and Harold Johnston; her parents, Asa and Blanche (Jones) Johnston; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Lew and Elsie (McCracken) Wakehouse; her brothers-in-law, Leo and Jerry Wakehouse; her sisters-in-law, Pat Johnston and Mary Cross; she also lost some very young nephews, Kevin Wakehouse, Craig Wakehouse, and Jeffery Johnston.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to the DAV or VFW, and/or random acts of kindness in Louise’s honor--as she & her loved ones lived by, each new day.

Condolences may be left online for the family at www.goslarfuneralhome.com

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