Lois Caraway

Caraway, Lois A.

MADISON – Lois A. Caraway, age 89, of Madison, Wis., passed away on August 17, 2022, at Nazareth Health and Rehabilitation Center in Stoughton.

Lois was born on July 30, 1933, in Wausau, to the late Walter and Florence (Hinke) Weber.  She had two brothers (Donald Weber and Allan Weber) and one sister (Joan Weber).

Lois grew up in Marathon City, Wis., and graduated in 1955 from the University of Wisconsin - Madison with a B.S. degree in Physical Medicine, completing the required coursework for certification in physical therapy from the University of Wisconsin Medical School.  After graduation, Lois worked as a physical therapist for four years at Madison General Hospital in Madison and for several years at Lakeview General Hospital in Detroit, Mich.  Following her return to Wisconsin in 1961, Lois worked as a physical therapist at Sheboygan Memorial Hospital, St. Nicholas Hospital and Longfellow School in Sheboygan, Wis., and later at Clinton Meadow Park Nursing Home and the Clinton Community School District in Clinton, Wis.  After obtaining a controlling interest in Meadow Park, Lois and her late husband, Edward Caraway, began the long process of expanding the nursing home from 74 to 99 state-approved beds, which Lois completed following Edward’s death in 1982.  Lois continued to serve as a physical therapist at Meadow Park until retiring and relocating to Madison permanently in 1993.

After retiring from Meadow Park, Lois worked part-time as a physical therapist at Oakwood Village – Madison West, and later was a tireless volunteer at Oakwood and at Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Madison.  Lois was honored to receive the 2016 Outstanding Service Award from Oakwood in recognition of her many years (including over 12,350 volunteer hours) of selfless service to the residents she loved dearly.  In whatever spare time remained, Lois also enjoyed traveling with her immediate family and her siblings.

Lois is survived by her children, Kimberly (David) Leitl of Milwaukee, Kristen Caraway of Madison, and Todd (Karen) Caraway of Charlotte, NC; one grandson, Nicholas Terry of Madison; sisters-in-law Elaine Weber of Oxford, OH and Gerri Carraway of Asheville, NC; and many beloved nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

Lois was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Florence; her husband, Edward; her brothers, Donald and Allan; her sister, Joan; her sisters-in-law, Margaret Weber and Mary Ann Carraway; and her brothers-in-law, Walter Carraway and Ted Carraway.

The family wishes to specifically thank the staff at Nazareth and Agrace Hospice for all of the care, support and comfort they provided to Lois.

A memorial service will be held at MOUNT OLIVE LUTHERAN CHURCH, 110 Whitney Way, Madison, WI on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, at 2 pm.  Visitation is at 1 pm, prior to the service.  Memorials can be made in Lois’ memory to the Mount Olive Lutheran Church Foundation, Inc. or Mount Olive Evangelical Lutheran Church, or to The University of Wisconsin Foundation (to benefit the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at the University of Wisconsin - Madison). 

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service

3610 Speedway Road  Madison

(608) 238-3434