Lou Ann (Wendt) Dahl

Lou Ann Dahl passed away peacefully on May 30, 2025, in Meridian, Idaho, just four days after celebrating her 86th birthday.

Born in Mahnomen, Minnesota, to Ted and Valborg Wendt, Lou Ann grew up on a family farm, where she learned the value of hard work, faith, and family. She earned her undergraduate degree in education from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, and later completed a master’s degree in early childhood education from California State University, Hayward.

While living and teaching in Montana, Lou Ann met the love of her life, James (“Jim”) Eli Dahl. They were married for 48 years and built a joyful life together in Pleasanton, California, where they raised their two children, Scott and Susan, and shared a deep love of family.

Lou Ann and Jim were deeply involved in church life, first at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Dublin, CA where Lou Ann helped start a co-op preschool and served as Director, and later at Trinity Lutheran Church in Pleasanton. Both congregations were home to treasured friendships and a vibrant social circle that brought decades of joy -dinner parties, celebrations, and travel adventures with a group that became like extended family.

Lou Ann had a true gift for working with children. She taught preschool for over 30 years, and always brought insight, warmth, and joy into her classroom. After retiring to Meridian, Idaho with Jim to be near family, she helped launch the preschool at Hope Lutheran Church in Eagle, where she also served on the preschool board. She loved helping children learn and grow and always had thoughtful, reassuring advice for parents. Her favorite part of teaching was the spontaneous, unplanned teachable moments that unfolded each day. She and Jim brought that same care and attentiveness to their role as grandparents, becoming a steady, loving presence in their grandchildren’s lives - from birthdays and holidays to concerts, sporting events, and everyday routines. After Jim’s passing, Lou Ann continued to show up with that same unwavering love - always engaged, encouraging, and deeply invested in the things that mattered most to them.

Lou Ann embraced life’s simple pleasures: gardening, dancing, hosting dinner parties, being near the ocean, walking her dog Buddy, cheering on Boise State football, and brunching with her grandchildren at Touchmark, the senior living community where she lived. She will be remembered for her warmth, humor, and generosity of spirit. She was a gifted storyteller who saw the color in everyday life and made people feel seen, supported, and loved.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim Dahl. She developed many dear friendships at Touchmark, where she found a warm and lively community that meant a great deal to her in her final years. Among those friendships, she especially cherished her connection with Arvin Spoffard, with whom she shared many memorable outings and visits to the ocean - her favorite place. Her presence will be deeply missed by the many friends she made at Touchmark.

Lou Ann is survived by her son Scott Dahl (Jessalyn), her daughter Susan Dahl-Robertson (Steve), and her three grandchildren, Eli, Sophia, and Sean Robertson, who lovingly knew her as Mimi. She is also survived by her sister Laurie Gammill (Walt), her brother Larry Wendt (Deanna), and many nieces, nephews, and lifelong friends.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 2, 2025, at Hope Lutheran Church in Eagle, Idaho, at 10 am. The service will be livestreamed for those unable to attend in person.

If you’d like to make a donation in honor of Lou Ann and her love of teaching, early childhood education, and literacy for all, below are some meaningful nonprofit options:

·         Resurrection Child Development Program (formerly Resurrection Lutheran Preschool)

·         Giraffe Laugh Early Learning Centers (early childhood education in Idaho)

·         Learning Lab (a literacy education center for low-income adults and families with young children)

·         Book it Forward! Idaho (Idaho voices for children)