Lois Ruth McCarron

Lois McCarron Obituary Lois (Buhl) McCarron, age 78, was reunited with her husband, Paul McCarron, her parents Walter and Dorothy Buhl, her sister Ruth Johnson and other relatives on May 26, 2022, after courageously living with ovarian cancer. Lois was born in Hillsboro, Oregon. At the age of 2, her parents moved to Richland Center, Wisconsin and then to Springfield, Minnesota when Lois was in the second grade. It was in Springfield, Minnesota that Lois developed her life-long love of music, thanks to the band director at the school. The Buhl family later moved to Madelia, Minnesota where Lois graduated from Madelia High School. During that time, she was active in Speech/Debate club, participated in Spelling Bees, played clarinet in band, and performed in and won numerous High School Solo and Ensemble competitions. She continued to stay in contact with her High School classmates until her passing. After graduating from Madelia High School, she went on to receive her nursing degree at St. Barnabas School of Nursing, Bachelor of Science degree at Mankato State University. Lois worked as a nurse in mental health and public health at the county and state level. She was active in the Minnesota Nurses Association and held the positions of Secretary and First Vice President. In 1990, she obtained her Juris Doctorate from the William Mitchell College of Law. She was a passionate advocate for public health. As a Registered Nurse and an attorney, she worked in state and county government as a health services administrator, health planner, a Committee Administrator for the MN House of Representatives, and Policy Analyst for the Association of MN Counties. In 1981, she was chosen as a delegate for the White House Conference on aging by Minnesota Governor Al Quie. She dedicated her life to creating policy changes at the local, county and state level in public health and long-term care. After retirement, Lois volunteered regularly at the VA Hospital for over 10 years. She became a certified Parish Nurse and started a Parish Nurse service. Lois met the love of her life, Paul McCarron, at the Minnesota Legislature. Even though one was a Democrat and one was a Republican, their mutual passion for advocacy, mental health, and public health is what brought them together and they married in 1989. Along with their political (public) advocacy, Lois and Paul shared a passion for community service. They were active members in the American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary, DAV and Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary, Anoka County Veterans Council, and Lions International. Lois held many leadership roles in these organizations. She was a life member and Vice Commander for Anoka Unit #39. In the State Department, she held the offices of Commander, Junior Vice Commander, and Senior Vice Commander. She participated on the State Rules and Audit Committees and chaired the Rules, Community Services, Mae Holmes and Membership Committees. At the National Level, Lois attended many conferences, national conventions, and served on various convention committees. She was also president of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit #303 and member of the Forty & Eight Cabane #390. Paul and Lois loved to travel together by car, boat, plane and train across Europe, South America, and the US. Every adventure gave them the opportunity to make many friends. She encouraged Paul to investigate his Irish Heritage. It was then that they found Irish relatives and created an extended family whom they remained in contact with until Lois' death in May. After Paul's death in 2013, Lois continued to travel on her own. She loved to tell everyone that she traveled to Ireland 26 times. She took a Baltic Cruise with her daughter, traveled to Italy with her daughter and granddaughter Mariahna, received the Pope's blessing in Rome, and visited the healthcare system in Nicaragua with her grandson Taylor. She learned how to scuba dive in the Bahamas and drive motorcycle across the United States. Everywhere she went she seemed to develop family, in Ireland, in Slovakia, in Peru, in England, and in Japan. She loved and cherished everyone. She was always looking for common ground with all those she met. Her greatest gift was her ability to maintain contact with everyone whether it was by phone, instant messaging, video call, or social media. You could always be certain to receive a Birthday card, Valentine's Day card, and any other type of card when it was expected. Her love of music led to her playing a brass instrument in the Govenaires Drum and Bugle Corps, singing with church choirs, and at the age of 75, she brushed up on her clarinet to travel to South Africa for a concert band tour. Lois is survived by her brother Walter (Bonnie) Buhl, daughter Janet (Dennis) Jorgenson-Rathke, son Shane McCarron (Serenity), nephew Andrew (Kim) Johnson; grandchildren Taylor and Mariahna Jorgenson-Rathke, Nick and Jessica McCarron and Emma, Logan, Madison, Taliah Johnson along with all the friends and families she has known and cherished throughout her lifetime. My mother lived life to the fullest and died on her own terms fighting cancer with all her might. May she rest in peace and continue to live her best life in eternity. I will love her, just as you will love her, always and forever. I thank you all for that. Her daughter, Janet

Tributes

Lois Ruth McCarron

September 14, 1943 - May 26, 2022

Tributes

Lois Ruth McCarron

September 14, 1943 - May 26, 2022

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