Lola Louise Nass, age 92 years, of Seattle, Washington, passed away early Wednesday
morning, December 18, 2013, in her home with family members by her side.
Lola was born in Bloomfield, Nebraska, July 29, 1921, to Joseph and Blanche Gust. When she was an infant, Lola’s parents, older brother Norman Gust, and she, relocated to Alexandria, South Dakota, where they farmed the land and remained until March, 1938. By that time four more siblings were added to the family unit: Betty, Ellen, Earl and Janice Gust.
Attending Alexandria High School in Alexandra, South Dakota, near the end of her junior year, Lola and family left their farm and drove from South Dakota to begin a new life on Vashon Island, Washington. Lola completed her junior and senior year at Vashon Island High School, graduating with the Class of 1939.
On October 18, 1940, she married Henry Christian Nass, of Dockton, Washington, at the Vashon Lutheran Church (which is now the Heritage Museum on Bank Road). In the early 1940’s, Hank and Lola bought their first home on Cove Road from Mrs. Gorsuch. By the mid-1940’s they traded island life for that of the city by selling their Cove Road bungalow to purchase their Seattle home, where Lola lived for almost 70 years, until her death. She was widowed on June 3, 1984, when Henry died suddenly while they were on a fishing trip in
British Columbia and she never remarried.
Before starting her family with Hank, Lola enjoyed working outside the home in a variety of positions on Vashon Island, which included: waitressing at The Alibi; serving customers at the pharmacy’s soda fountain; beginning a coffee shop with her Aunt Alice (Gust) Hatchery. Her last paid position was in Seattle for the Washington Insurance Examining Bureau. Lola gave up her career and chose to be a “stay-at-home” mother in the late 1940’s.
A member of the former Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Seattle, from its beginning, Lola walked in her Christian faith both inside and the outside of the church walls. A woman of strong character, she is remembered by most as always kind and full of grace, looking for the good in those with whom she encountered and delighting in serving others. Her love and appreciation for her country was only exceeded by her love of God and her family.
Lola was preceded in death by her husband, Henry C. Nass, their infant daughter, Camille Marcelle Nass, brother, Norman Gust and sister, Betty (Gust) Larson. She is survived by her children, Thomas L. Nass of Covina, CA; Leah L. (Nass) Richardson of Seattle, WA; Dale J. Nass of Seattle, WA. She is also survived by her siblings, Ellen Chapman of Arizona; Earl Gust of California and Jancie Tanberg of Nevada. She was a Grandmother of six: Nicole Floyd, Adam Gabrielson, Brandon Nass, Zachary Nass, Thomas, Jr. “TJ” Nass, and Aaron Richardson; Great-grandmother of Parker and Caleb Gabrielson, Makayla and Braydon Nass, Cole Floyd, and two more great-grandchildren due in mid-2014. Lola is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
A service to celebrate Lola’s life will be held Saturday, January 4, 2014, 1 p.m., at Vashon Island Community Church, 9318 S.W. Cemetery Road, Vashon, WA 98070. A private graveside service will be held at Vashon Island Cemetery, Vashon, WA. Arrangements are by Island Funeral Service.
The family suggests that memorials be made, in her name, to Providence Hospice of Seattle, 425 Pontius Avenue N., Ste. 300, Seattle, WA 98109, or the charity of your choice.
Please visit our online guestbook at www.islandfuneral.com.
Paid Obituary.
