Lois E. Balge

Lois (Prueter) Balge was born on December 20, 1929, at her home in Toledo, Ohio. Her parents were William and Martha (Noffke) Prueter. She became a child of God through her baptism on January 5, 1930 and was confirmed in her Christian faith at Zion Lutheran Church in Toledo on April 2, 1944. Our gracious Lord called her home to heaven on October 12, 2025 at the age of 95.

She graduated from Michigan Lutheran Seminary of Saginaw in 1948 and from Dr. Martin Luther College of New Ulm, MN in 1951. Through the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod’s Assignment Committee, she received a divine call to teach and play organ at St. John’s Lutheran School of Red Wing, Minnesota. There she taught grades Kindergarten through 4th grade from 1951-1957. After marrying Richard D. Balge on June 22, 1957, she also taught at Jerusalem Lutheran School in Milwaukee during his last year of Seminary.

She supported him in his ministry as pastor at Divine Peace Lutheran of Milwaukee, then at the Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel and Student Center in Madison and during his service at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon. During their Madison years, she completed her Bachelor of Science degree, graduating from the University of Wisconsin in 1971. While in Mequon she served her Savior as a teacher at Calvary (now Christ Alone) Lutheran School in Thiensville for over 10 years.

She was preceded in death by her three siblings – Miriam (Rude), Theodore and Bill Prueter and her husband of 64 years, Richard (d. October 17, 2021). She is survived by her son Daniel and his wife Bethel with their children Lydia (Peter) Metzger, Martha, Philip, Thomas (Eleanor) and John; her son Carl and his children Nicholas (Rachelle), Hannah and Madeline (Micah) Jahns; her son Jonathan and his wife Julie with their children Rebecca (Aaron) Frigge; Joseph, Benjamin (Erika) and Rachel; her daughter Ellen; and five – soon six -- great-grandchildren. Her body will be committed to the earth at Graceland Cemetery of Milwaukee, there to await the resurrection to life eternal.

A visitation will take place at Christ Alone Lutheran Church, 247 S. Main St., Thiensville, from 10:00 am – 11:45 am on Thursday, October 16, 2025. A Funeral Service will take place at noon with lunch following at the school. Private committal. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Christ Alone Lutheran School or Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary are appreciated. In personal notes anticipating her funeral, Lois gave us this ancient and joyful reminder --

“Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again!”

-- Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ. -- Ephesians 3:8