Obituary for Lulu Ilene "Lou" Cane
Lou Handley Cane was born August 11, 1924 in Narka, Kansas to Gladys and Ross Handley. She was the 4th oldest of what would eventually be the 12 Handley children. Lou grew up in the small town of Gurley, Nebraska on the family farm. When she was old enough, she left immediately to find a life for herself in Denver with her older sister Fern. At the start of World War II, she joined the “WOWCATS” and tried her hand at army vehicle maintenance in support of the war effort. Later she moved to Seattle where she soon met Robert “Bob” Cane – the story goes that they fell in love at first sight, and all that knew them can attest that they stayed in love for the entire 67 years of marriage.
One of Lou's greatest life wishes was to be a mother and when she found out she could not have her own, she found a way to make it happen. She brought Michael B. Cane and Gregory R. Cane into the family and raised them with love, grace, and an unrivaled patience.
Lou was an adventurous spirit and made a concerted effort to live life to its fullest. After Bob retired from the City of Los Angeles, the couple took a calculated risk and bought a hotel in Oklahoma, and later another in Ocean City. Lou and Bob were avid travelers in their retirement, taking their Dolphin RV across the United States, before branching out into the world, visiting the Great Wall of China and Aruba well up in their later years.
Lou and Bob settled in Oak Harbor, WA in 1997 to be closer to their grandchildren and enjoyed walking the beaches, playing bridge and pinochle at the Senior Center, beating their younger relations at poker, and taking traveling whenever they could. Lou was a master at seeing the good in people and all situations, and with this, together with her strong will and confidence, she was the life of every party.
Lou is survived by her sons Mike and Greg Cane, daughters-in-law Sheila and Bobbie, granddaughters and their spouses, Emily and Matt Walling and Arianna and Stephen Bumgarner, great-grandson, Mason Walling; her second great-grandchild is expected in August. Lou will additionally be missed by her three sisters: Wanda Eastman, Joey Piwenitzky, and LaDonna Zetwick, and many nieces and nephews. Lou joins in death her soulmate: Bob, her parents and her stepmother, Dorothy, and her siblings: Fern, Joy, Loy, Ruth, Don, Carol, June, and Harry.
Lou's family would like to thank the staff of the Regency on Whidbey & Whidbey Health Hospice who cared for both her and Bob in their last days.
Lou was a partner as a wife, a friend in sisterhood, an advocate as a mother, and a role-model and cheerleader as a Nana; she will be missed by many but left each of us better for having known her.
Donations in her memory can be made to Save the Children online at savethechildren.org.
A private graveside will take place at Sunnyside Cemetery in Coupeville, Wash where Lou will be laid to rest next to her beloved Bob.
One of Lou's greatest life wishes was to be a mother and when she found out she could not have her own, she found a way to make it happen. She brought Michael B. Cane and Gregory R. Cane into the family and raised them with love, grace, and an unrivaled patience.
Lou was an adventurous spirit and made a concerted effort to live life to its fullest. After Bob retired from the City of Los Angeles, the couple took a calculated risk and bought a hotel in Oklahoma, and later another in Ocean City. Lou and Bob were avid travelers in their retirement, taking their Dolphin RV across the United States, before branching out into the world, visiting the Great Wall of China and Aruba well up in their later years.
Lou and Bob settled in Oak Harbor, WA in 1997 to be closer to their grandchildren and enjoyed walking the beaches, playing bridge and pinochle at the Senior Center, beating their younger relations at poker, and taking traveling whenever they could. Lou was a master at seeing the good in people and all situations, and with this, together with her strong will and confidence, she was the life of every party.
Lou is survived by her sons Mike and Greg Cane, daughters-in-law Sheila and Bobbie, granddaughters and their spouses, Emily and Matt Walling and Arianna and Stephen Bumgarner, great-grandson, Mason Walling; her second great-grandchild is expected in August. Lou will additionally be missed by her three sisters: Wanda Eastman, Joey Piwenitzky, and LaDonna Zetwick, and many nieces and nephews. Lou joins in death her soulmate: Bob, her parents and her stepmother, Dorothy, and her siblings: Fern, Joy, Loy, Ruth, Don, Carol, June, and Harry.
Lou's family would like to thank the staff of the Regency on Whidbey & Whidbey Health Hospice who cared for both her and Bob in their last days.
Lou was a partner as a wife, a friend in sisterhood, an advocate as a mother, and a role-model and cheerleader as a Nana; she will be missed by many but left each of us better for having known her.
Donations in her memory can be made to Save the Children online at savethechildren.org.
A private graveside will take place at Sunnyside Cemetery in Coupeville, Wash where Lou will be laid to rest next to her beloved Bob.