Lois E. Aubinger, founder and longtime publisher of the Ashwaubenon Howard-Suamico Press, led a busy life dedicated to the community her newspaper served.
She was born in 1926 in Detroit to Alice (Cox) and Joseph De Vries, and grew up in Marinette following the death of her father. She graduated from Marinette High School and relocated to New York City to attend Columbia University.
While in New York, she worked as an executive secretary for Rand McNally and Reader’s Digest.
She married Warren P. Aubinger in 1952 in Green Bay. By 1970, Aubinger founder the Ashwaubenon Press and it grew to include the Howard-Suamico area in 1977. She continued to operate the newspaper until 1994, when failing health forced her retirement.
Warren was deeply involved in the local community. From organizing events for children and teens, to urging the league inclusion of an Oneida Nation Babe Ruth baseball team, or spearheading the formation of a park – which is now called the Lois Aubinger Park in Ashwaubenon – Aubinger worked for decades to improve the area.
She was Ashwaubenon’s first director of parks and recreation, and in 1973 was awarded by the Ashwaubenon Business and Professional Association for her service.
She died Aug. 31, 1998, at the age of 72.
