Obituary of Lotus Schiller

Lotus L. Schiller, 82, of Enterprise, AL (formerly of Monon, IN) passed away Saturday, February 4, 2023 at Elba Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Elba, AL.  She was born on June 24, 1940 in Indiana to the late Lloyd J. and Nerine E. [Eide] Lowe.  After graduating from High School, Lotus enrolled in the School of Nursing at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Lafayette, IN.  She graduated in 1961 as a Registered Nurse - qualified to work in numerous states without having to take the individual state boards every time.  She went to work at Western Reserve Hospital in Cleveland, OH for a number of years.  Getting homesick, she returned home to Indiana and went to work at White Memorial Hospital in Monticello, IN.  In May 1964, Lotus met her future husband, Eckhard Schiller, who had enrolled as a student at Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN.  They were married on the June 5, 1965 in her hometown of Monon.  Lotus went to work at the Student Health Center at Purdue and became the head nurse of the emergency room after a short time.  After her husband’s graduation in June 1969, the couple moved to Michigan for a short time until Eckhard was called to active duty with the US Army.  He had accepted a commission through ROTC.  A daughter, Kim, was born in April 1970 with multiple health problems (as diagnosed at Walter Reed Medical Center) and was not expected to live more than 48 hours.  The couple was advised to give her up for an institution to care for her; which in their mind would mean certain death for Kim.  Lotus convinced the doctors (Eckhard had mentioned that she was a nurse) to let her take their baby home, even if it was just for a few days… Lotus had to feed her with an eye dropper every two hours to keep her alive.  At the next doctor’s appointment, Kim had gained an ounce of weight and was very much alive.  She had to be rehospitalized at Walter Reed several days later because of new problems.  The doctors gave her little chance of survival and prepared the parents for her passing.  Lotus and Eckhard asked to have her baptized by one of the hospital chaplains; their request was granted.  Kim not only survived the night, but was quite chipper the next morning.  Doctors and nurses could hardly believe what they saw.  The whole family went on an overseas assignment to Germany where Kim was treated at Landstuhl Medical Center until the US Army decided to send the family stateside (many months later)  to Fort Knox, KY.  Under Kentucky law, Kim had to be enrolled in a school setting for handicap children according to her age.  The school did not have a school nurse, so Lotus volunteered her services free of charge.  This also provided her the opportunity to remain close to her daughter during the school hours.  Kim passed away on October 26, 1992 at the age of 22. 

She is survived by:

Eckhard Schiller, Enterprise, AL Husband

Melvin Lowe, Indiana Brother

Craig Lowe, Indiana Nephew

Robert (Lisa) Lowe, Indiana Nephew

Cynthia Lowe, Indiana Great Niece

Preceded in death by:

Lloyd J. and Nerine E. [Eide] Lowe, Parents

Kim Schiller, Daughter

Leonard Lowe, Brother

A Celebration of Life will be held at Christ the King Church in Alabama at a later date. 

Cremation Arrangements have been entrusted to Sorrells Funeral Home in Enterprise, AL.

Graveside Services will be held at 11:30 AM EDT Tuesday, May 9, 2023 at Chapel Cemetery in Monon, IN with Pastor Andrew Keller officiating. 

Burial will take place at Chapel Cemetery in Monon, IN.

Online Tributes may be offered at www.frainmortuary.com.

Local Arrangements have been entrusted to Frain Mortuary Querry-Ulbricht Chapel in Francesville, IN.