Lois Demars, 87, checks skydiving off her bucket list
By Bridget Bartal
Staff Writer
Lois Demars, affectionately known by the Sharon community as ‘Grandma Cookie’ went skydiving earlier this summer at Skydive the Rock in Beloit. She is 87 years old.
She said skydiving had been on her bucket list for more than a couple of decades. On July 6, she was finally able to cross off one of the more exhilarating items on that list.
“It was just fun, not scary at all. I’d like to do it again,” Demars said.
“But if anyone finds a white shoe, let me know. I lost a shoe up there,” she added.
Demars also reflected a bit more about her bucket list, including some items she’s checked off as well as others she still hopes to accomplish.
“I want to fly a plane some day. It might be a while though. Well, beating cancer, that was on my bucket list. I did that,” Demars said.
She explained that she had planned to go skydiving years ago but life had other plans at the time.
“I was going to skydive when I was 62, but I was in the hospital that summer. The next year, I was out of the hospital but on chemo treatment. I’m still taking chemo, but things are so much better now,” Demars said.
Nearly 20 of Grandma Cookie’s friends and Sharon community members were more than happy to accompany her to the skydiving location.
One of her friends, Mary Diderich, said Demar’s outlook on life is to be admired.
“She is just an amazing individual. At 87, she is still working nights at Swiss Maid Bakery,” Diderich said.
“As for skydiving, the only thing she was worried about was breaking her legs. She took off her braces to jump out of an airplane, but she needs them to walk,” she added.
Diderich said the people at Skydive the Rock in Beloit – where Demars boarded – and later jumped out of – a plane, was welcoming to the entire group.
“The people at Skydive the Rock were really great to her – and to the other 17 of us. They walked us through the process of how skydiving works,” Diderich said.
And as if skydiving wasn’t enough, Demars was treated to a bonus.
“The instructor even let Lois steer the parachute for a little while,” Diderich said.
It’s apparent that through the years, ‘Grandma Cookie’ has been able to maintain her love of life and sense of adventure, considering the sage advice she had to offer.
“If you’re going to make up your mind to stay young, you stay young. It’s just that easy.”
