Lois Jean Hayek was born Jan. 20, 1944, in Oakland, California, to Jarvis M. and Wanda Elizabeth (Tiffany) Bolen and went to her heavenly home, surrounded by her family at home, on Oct. 30, 2023, in Ulysses, at the age of 79 years, 9 months and 10 days.
Lois grew up in California until the age of 11. She moved to Nebraska after her mother passed away and her father became ill. Lois was later adopted by her uncle and aunt, John and Winifred (Perk) Bolen. She attended school in Ulysses and graduated from Seward High School with the Class of 1961. Lois was baptized in the Catholic church on Feb. 17, 1962. On March 3, 1962, Lois was united in marriage to Thomas Lee Hayek at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Ulysses, and to this union, five children, Donald, Michael, Teresa, Linda and Matthew, were born.
Lois was a homemaker and babysat for several families in the area. After Matthew was born, she began working outside of the home. She worked for several years at David Manufacturing Co. and Walkers. Lois also worked at Concordia University in the kitchen and later as a cook and a caregiver at Greene Place, Heartland Park and her last job was at Ridgewood Rehab and Care Center.
Lois loved tending to her flower garden, reading books, sewing and crocheting. She enjoyed playing board games, especially Scrabble with Lois Semin, and completing jigsaw and crossword puzzles. Lois loved going on camping trips with Tom and she would crochet while he would fish. She was an avid seamstress. Lois made all the girls’ prom and wedding dresses. Her favorite role was being a grandmother and she loved spending time with her grandchildren. Lois was a member of the PTO in Ulysses as well as a Brownie leader for a couple of years. She was a longtime member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, where she typed the church bulletins for many years for Monsignor Schuster.
Lois was preceded in death by her parents; her adoptive parents; husband, Thomas Hayek; son, Michael Hayek; two grandsons, Donald James Hayek, Jr., and Alan Thomas Hofer; brother, David Bolen; brothers and sisters-in-law, Claude Hall, Irv Jones, Eugene and wife, Kate Hayek, Cleo and wife, Jennie Robak and Norbert Cerny.
Survivors cherishing her memory include her four children, Donald Hayek and wife, Glora, Ulysses, Teresa Hofer and husband, Eric, Seward, Linda Levi and husband, Kevin, Good Thunder, Minnesota, and Matthew Hayek and wife, Debbie, Seward; 13 grandchildren, Joshua Thomas Hayek, Crystal Starr, John Robert Hayek, Jamie Lee Hayek, Ross Michael Hofer, David Michael Hayek, Hanna Marie Hofer, Samantha Jo Hayek, Joseph Matthew Hayek, Saratoga Jean Hayek, Shailee Noelle Hayek, Cheyenne Jade Hayek and Thunder Thomas Hayek; four great-grandchildren, Peyton Hayek, Lillian and Clara Broderick and Harper Meierdierks; sister, Sandy Hall; sister-in-law, Rose Jones; brother-in-law, Robert Hayek, Morrill; two sisters-in-law, Phyllis Cerny, Chicago, Illinois, and Bernie and husband, Donald Chermok, Lincoln; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Mass of Christian Burial was Nov. 3 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Ulysses with inurnment at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Ulysses. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Hayek family for future designations. Arrangements by Zabka-Perdue Funeral Home.
