A Visionary's Road Map

Louise Moede Lex was born in 1929 and grew up in the Upper Midwest during the Great Depression of the 1930s and World War II in the 1940s. Louise's father was a Congregationalist minister, but at a very young age, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease and could no longer work. Her family was poor, living from pillar to post, and Louise knew she had to become financially independent at an early age. She began to see her life as having a road map and she set goals for herself. On her journey, Louise earned a Ph.D., found the love of her life, and adopted two children. Louise was a feminist before the word was created and she fought for herself, her family, her father, and every underdog she ever met. Today, at the age of 94, she is still employed by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services and is probably the oldest state employee in the nation. This is her story, written by her daughter, Andrea Lex.

About the author. Andrea Lex is from Ames, though she currently resides in Southern California. Her inaugural work, A Visionary's Road Map, is a biography of her mother, who is still employed by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.