Darlene Lorentz

Darlene M. Lorentz, age 78, of Willmar, died Thursday, April 24, at the St. Cloud Hospital.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, April 28, at the Church of St. Mary in Willmar. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be 4:00-6:00 p.m. Sunday, April 27, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Darlene Marie (Beurge) Lorentz was born April 9, 1936 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She grew up in Staples, Minnesota and graduated from Staples High School in 1954. She attended teacher's training in Minneapolis and then returned to Staples to teach in a one-room rural schoolhouse. On December 29, 1956, she married Robert Lorentz. They lived in Eveleth, Minnesota, where Robert worked on the Iron Range. Darlene stayed home to raise her children, but continued to substitute teach and tutor special-needs students. She also served as a 4H leader for the Makinen Busy Bees. In 1985, they moved to Willmar, where they owned and operated the Viking Motel until their retirement in 1995.

Darlene was an excellent cook and loved feeding people. She was quick to offer any visitors a cup of coffee and conversation. She was selfless and always made herself available to others. Darlene volunteered for Meals-on-Wheels for several years. She enjoyed reading, gardening, music, and playing backgammon. She was a fierce card player.

She is survived by her loving husband, Robert; six children, Douglas (and Deborah) Lorentz of Troy, IL, Mark Lorentz of Willmar, Trayce Packa of Willmar, Catherine (and Garry) Barnett of Chugiak, AK, William Lorentz of Minneapolis and Jessica Lorentz of St. Louis Park; seven grandchildren, Abigail Lorentz, Phillip Lorentz, Zachery Lorentz, Loren Packa, Ryan Packa, Max Packa, and Samantha Lorentz; two brothers, Ted (and Jean) Lanske of Waverly, IA and Terry (and Julie) Lanske of Staples; and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Lucille Lanske; stepfather, August Lanske; and a beloved uncle, Walter Beurge.

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