Wayne County Press
Fairfield IL.
Thursday, Dec. 15, 1983
Page 2

Mrs. Lois Kriel, 74, of Fairfield, a retired circus performer, the mother of Richard Kriel, of Fairfield, died at 8:26 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 13, 1983, at Wabash General Hospital in Mt. Carmel.

Mrs. Kriel lived south of Fairfield with her son until two months ago when she entered a Mt. Carmel nursing home.  She was in declining health and entered the hospital about an hour prior to her death.

Funeral services for Mrs. Kriel will be held at 2:30 p.m. Friday at the Johnson Funeral Home, with Pastor Raymond Reinbolt officiating. Burial will follow in the Thomason Cemetery at Wayne City.  Visitation for family and friends will be held after 6 p.m. Thursday (tonight) at the funeral home in Fairfield.

Mrs. Kriel was born in Magerango, Iowa, Oct. 4, 1909, the daughter of Louis and Lena (Simms) Schoetke.   She was married to Lowell Kriel in 1932.  He preceded her in death in 1978.

The Kriels performed in show business for many years. They worked a trained dog act and were employed as clowns. The couple lived In Iowa City, Iowa and used that as their home base while traveling with their act. They moved to Fairfield 10 years ago.

Mrs. Kriel was a member of Christ Lutheran Church, of Fairfield.

She is survived by one son Richard Kriel, of Fairfield; two daughters, Mrs. Pat DiGiacorno, of Van Nuys, Calif.; and Mrs. Lois Jean Speath, of Washington state; one sister, Flossie Schoetke, of Dwight, lowa; and eight grandchildren.