NEW ULM–Lois “Toots” (Hartl) Kalz, age 80, died Monday, December 8, 2025, at Prairie Cottages in New Ulm.

Memorial service will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 18, 2025, at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home – South Chapel in New Ulm, with a private burial at the New Ulm Catholic Cemetery at a later date.Visitation will be held from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Thursday at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home – South Chapel prior to the service. The Christian Mother’s will pray the rosary at 4 p.m. Wednesday, December 17, 2025 at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New Ulm.

Toots is survived by her daughter, Jill Kalz (Larry Mack); son, Mike Kalz; and sisters-in-law Mary Ann and Kathy Kalz. She was preceded in death by her husband, Roger; parents, Delbert and Marcella “Sally” Hartl; and beloved family dogs, Miss Puddin’, Sally, Lucy, Betsy, and Tuckerbean.

Lois Jean Hartl was born on July 10, 1945, to Delbert and Marcella “Sally” (Manderfeld) Hartl of New Ulm, MN. Often called “Tootsie” as a child, Toots was a diligent student. She was passionate about books, played clarinet in the school band and piano and organ in church, and had a flair for the dramatic and comedic. At age 15, she got her first job, working part-time as a Woolworth’s check-out girl. She graduated as valedictorian of her class from Holy Trinity High School in 1963. After graduation, Toots enrolled in the nursing program at Mankato State College but left after her junior year, unsure if medicine was her calling.

In 1966, she took a job as a payroll clerk at 3M-New Ulm, where her future husband, Roger Kalz, already worked. On May 6, 1967, the two married. They welcomed a daughter, Jill, in 1968, and built a house the following year. By then, Toots had left 3M and was taking calls in the New Ulm Telephone Company’s Installation, Complaint, and Repair Department. She and Roger welcomed a son, Michael, in 1973. With a newborn to care for, Toots took a mostly at-home, part-time bookkeeping job with Lee’s Standard. Once both kids were in school, she joined Petron Family Chiropractic full-time, doing everything from scheduling and billing to X-ray developing. From 1984 to 1988, Toots worked at the New Ulm Diocesan Center. She also went back to college and took classes toward an Open Studies degree. Toots returned to 3M-New Ulm in 1988, where she performed computer-room duties before moving into the Building 1 receptionist position. Toots was known at the front desk for her brilliant smile, witty conversation, and sharp, smart sense of humor.

In July 2001, Toots and Roger retired from 3M on the same day, having worked there 14 and 35 years respectively. Thrilled to finally leave the world of work, Toots embraced retirement by sharing lunches and wine dates with friends, reading stacks of mysteries, and going on her first overseas trip, with Jill, to the UK, their train pulling into Wales on, of all days, September 11, 2001 (9/11). Toots enjoyed traveling to Florida and Hawaii, decorating for Halloween and Christmas, playing piano, laughing, shopping, eating all things chocolate, and going to Broadway musicals. She delighted in watching classic movies and doing crosswords and jigsaw puzzles, her dogs snuggled on her lap. Most of all, Toots loved her two kids, often calling them her greatest source of pride and joy. In 2012, at age 66, Toots was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. She moved to Prairie Senior Cottages memory-care community in 2017. In the end, although the disease tried to rob her of everything, including her ability to walk and speak, she stayed strong and could still recognize a kindness and share a smile with the caregivers who worked so hard to keep her safe and well, especially Jeff and Romaine.

Memorials to the Alzheimer’s Association or the New Ulm Public Library are preferred in lieu of flowers.

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