Lois Berner , 92, of Merrill, Iowa passed away Monday, December 21, 2020 at Northern Hills Assisted Living in Sioux City, Iowa.

Funeral service will be 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Le Mars. Pastor Lisa Millen will officiate. Private family burial will be at Hillside Cemetery in Merrill, Iowa. Visitation will be on Tuesday, December 29, 2020 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Le Mars, the family will be present from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Social distancing and wearing a mask will be required. Arrangements are with the Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Le Mars. Expressions of sympathy can be extended to the family through www.rexwinkelfh.com .

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in her name to Merrill United Methodist Church.

Lois Ilene Schneider was born May 10, 1928 in Sioux City, Iowa, the daughter of William and Catherine (Easton) Schneider. She grew up in Akron, Iowa, where she attended school. She graduated from Akron High School in 1946. She attended Samuel's School of Cosmetology in Sioux City and graduated in 1947.

She was united in marriage to Herschel Berner on August 4, 1948 in Merrill, Iowa. They made their home near Merrill from 1950 to 1978. She owned and operated Lois' Beauty Shop in Merrill from 1955 to 1969. In 1970, she became the manager of Stewart's Plaza Salon in Sioux City from 1970 to 1977. In 1977, she went to work for Plymouth County Public Health Nursing Services in Le Mars until her retirement. Herschel passed away in March of 1978. Later that year, Lois moved into Merrill. In 2015, she moved to Northern Hills Retirement Community in Sioux City.

She was member of the Merrill United Methodist Church where she was active in the Wesleyan Circle for many years. She was also a member of the Merrill Lion's Club and the American Legion Auxiliary. She participated in many fundraisers for the American Cancer Society. She was a past board member of the Northwest Iowa Credit Union in Le Mars. She also delivered "Meals on Wheels" in Merrill for several years. For the past 19 years, she has enjoyed being with her dear friend, Darrell Peters of Akron, Iowa. They enjoyed taking trips to Arizona and Utah. She also enjoyed dancing, playing cards, and spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Survivors include her son, Dr. Terry (Karen) Berner of Goodyear, AZ; her daughter, Cindy Berner-Schlichte of Merrill, IA; 4 grandchildren: Kari (Curt) Gengler of Merrill, IA and their children, Keegan and Kenley; Kylie (Tyler) Petty of Merrill, IA, and their children, Kenton and Kaisley; Hilary (Tyler) Paulson of Loveland, CO, and their daughter, Emme Mae Paulson; and Haley Berner of Phoenix, AZ; her sister, Darlene Johnson of Akron, IA; her dear friend, Darrell Peters of Akron, IA; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Catherine Schneider; her father and mother in law, Ralph and Ruby Berner; her husband, Herschel Berner; her son in law, Ken Schlichte; her great granddaughter, Kyndall Petty; her siblings, Milton (Dorothy) Schneider, Donna Andresen Hegi, and Marilyn (Claude) Burris; and two brothers in law, Darwin Johnson and Eli Andresen.