Lois Brann, nee Winter, of Willowbrook, IL, passed away April 11, 2005, in Waterford, MI, after a valiant fight with cancer. She was born June 10, 1928, in Milwaukee, WI, to the late Edwin and Florence Winter. Lois graduated from Shorewood High School and attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison, majoring in music. She had started studying piano at age four. She performed with the May Winter Academy of Music at Wood Veterans Hospital. As a very young girl she played a solo which garnered an enthusiastic response and her father said, “They want an encore.” Lois asked “What does that mean?” He said, “It means you have to play another song.” She didn’t know any. Her dad said, “Play Alexander’s Ragtime Band.” She had never played it so he hummed the melody line, and she went out and played it by ear. She worked in Milwaukee at WTMJ-TV on a program called “Say It With Music”. The program had four musicians, and they were given three notes and had to guess and then play the song. Lois played in large dance bands all through high school and college where she was the only female musician. In addition to the Winter Academy of Music, she studied music at the Wisconsin Conservatory and the University of Wisconsin Madison. She had several jazz teachers. Lois knew thousands of tunes and entertained in Hinsdale, IL, and various places in Door County, WI. She was a regular at the Baileys Harbor Yacht Club for many years. Lois married Lester William Brann Jr. in 1948 who preceded her in death in October 1993. He was an attorney and was the chief executive of both the Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce and then the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce for 33 years. They traveled together attending meetings all over the United States. Lois loved helping people whether it was cooking meals for sick friends or fund raising for many charities. She was a cheerful person and will be long remembered for her sense of humor. She was a member of St. Isaac’s Catholic Church for 37 years. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband. Survivors are two sons, Bill (Jan) of West Bloomfield, MI, and Tom (Diana) of Woodridge, IL; and three grandsons, Mike, Jason and Christopher; and future granddaughter-in-law Kinsley Robinson Brann; two sisters, Joan, nee Winter, Kulfan, Elaine, nee Winter, Bard; and many nieces and nephews. A Mass of Resurrection will be held on Saturday, April 16, 2005, at 11 a.m., at St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church in Baileys Harbor, WI. Interment will be in Baileys Harbor Cemetery. The family was assisted by the Casperson Funeral Home of Sister Bay, WI.
