Lysbeth Lora Vaillancourt Reiskytl was born on July 14, 1937, to Anita and Ken Vaillancourt, and went to heaven on July 14, 2026, her 89th birthday. She grew up in Milwaukee, WI, attending Rufus King High School, and graduated from Lawrence University in Appleton, WI in 1959 with a major in Biology and a minor in English.

At Lawrence, she sang in the a cappella choir and Girls Glee Club, was honored as a member of Phi Beta Kappa, served as sorority president and dorm officer, and was elected homecoming queen and May queen. Most significantly, she met her life partner and soulmate, James F. Reiskytl. Jim and Lys married on June 25, 1960. They had four children, 12 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.

In 1954, Lys began her lifelong connection to American Field Service, living as an exchange student with Ina Weichhart in Berlin, Germany. Later, she and Jim hosted AFS sons Mike Wiederkehr from Switzerland in 1980 and Hiroaki Toya from Japan in 1989, and she served as an AFS area representative for more than 20 years.

Lys began her teaching career as part of Homestead High School's founding 1959 staff in Mequon, WI, teaching biology for two years before serving as a permanent substitute teacher through 1989. She also taught and trained leaders for Child Evangelism Fellowship, leading Good News Clubs from 1977 to 2009, and was honored as Mequon's Woman of the Year.

A believer in Jesus, Lys sang in her church choir and on the women's ministry worship team, taught Sunday School at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, and directed children's and youth ministry programs at Christ Church, Lake Drive Baptist Church, and Eastbrook Church. Her favorite hymn, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness," captured the steady, lifelong trust in God's faithfulness that shaped who she was.

Lys loved time with family and friends, especially at Sanibel, FL and Pine Lake in Wild Rose, WI, and cherished travel, a love her parents instilled in her. She was a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, prayer warrior, vocalist, teacher, puzzle lover, sheller, and gardener. She was Christ-centered and known for her servant heart, hospitality, generosity, and encouragement.

Lys is survived by her husband, Jim, of 66 years; children John (Brenda Bradshaw), Rob (Beth McGraw), Ken (Angie Hatfield), and Kari (Manuel Rosado); grandchildren Anna (Micah Poteet), Aaron (Kristine Kallina), Nate (Paige Steen), Joelle (Micah Hancock), Caleb (Annika Peterson), Sara (Ian McNamara), Adam (Amy Sparks), Matt (Cassandra Duernberger), Moorea (Chris Douglas), Taylor Reiskytl, Raquel Rosado, and Marcos (Juniper Tucker); and great-grandchildren Daniel and Ellie Poteet, Izzy, Lina, Jordy and Jules Reiskytl, Olivia Reiskytl, Jed and Finn Hancock, Ellie and James McNamara, and Tommy Douglas.

She was predeceased by her parents, Anita and Ken Vaillancourt; her brother, John; and great-grandchildren Ti and Zeke Hancock.

A Memorial Service will be held at Eastbrook Church (5353 North Green Bay Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53209) on Saturday, July 25th at 3:30 p.m., with visitation from 2:00 to 3:15 p.m. Dinner will follow at the church.

Burial will follow on Monday, July 27th at 11:30 a.m. at Valhalla Memorial Park, 5402 N. 91st St., Milwaukee, WI 53225.  Schmidt & Bartelt Funeral & Cremation Services is assisting the family.

Family and friends are invited to share memories, pictures, and words of encouragement to memoriesoflys@gmail.com. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to:

Child Evangelism Fellowship, P.O. Box 348, Warrenton, MO 63383 — www.cefonline.org

Eastbrook Church, 5353 North Green Bay Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53209 — www.eastbrook.org