Vernon Lohrentz
Obituary
Vernon Paul Lohrentz, 87, passed
peacefully on Saturday (Oct. 13, 2018) at his home in North Newton.
He was born Feb. 14, 1931, at the home of his parents, P.R. and Emma
(Ortman) Lohrentz. He grew up on the family farm on Dutch Avenue in
rural Moundridge, along with four siblings.
Vernon was baptized during high school
at Hebron Mennonite Church in rural Buhler. He went to Berlin and
Liberty country schools and Moundridge High School. Vernon graduated
from Fort Wayne Bible College, Fort Wayne, Indiana; Bethel College,
North Newton; and Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary at Elkhart,
Indiana.
Vernon met Luella Mae Wiens of Inman at
Camp Mennoscah. Vernon and Luella married on June 1, 1953.
Vernon served as pastor at Mennonite
churches in Greensburg; Ransom; Hydro, Oklahoma; Broomfield, Montana;
Freeman, South Dakota; and Whitewater. Later, Vernon and Luella were
active participants at Jubilee Mennonite House Church and members of
Shalom Mennonite Church. Vernon and Luella were actively involved as
leaders in Mennonite Marriage Encounter as a pastoral team couple.
Vernon loved the outdoors and
gardening. He also was an adept hiker, climbing some of Colorado's
14,000 foot peaks. He had a deep concern for social justice, emerging
himself in civil rights and Native American issues and twice
traveling to El Salvador. He was an avid reader and loved history.
Vernon spent many hours exploring and researching the Santa Fe Trail
and was a past president of the Kansas Santa Fe Trail Association.
Survivors include five children: Paul
(Pam) Lohrentz, Jean Lohrentz, David (Megumi) Lohrentz, Tim Lohrentz
(Rachel Russell) and Susan Lohrentz (Carl Lind); siblings: Ellen
Voran, Howard Lohrentz (Katherine), Joan Ewert and Ken Lohrentz;
grandchildren: Megan Kluesner (Nate), Kylie Lohrentz, Jon-Paul (JP)
Lohrentz, Lyssa Newport (Eric), Crystal Hicks (Jeffrey), Whitney
Bandel (Dustin Franz), Dylan Bandel, Anika Lohrentz, Emmi Lohrentz,
Ben Lohrentz, Quincy Russell and Saige Lind; and great-grandchildren:
Kaylee, Caden, Kingston Kluesner and Molly Newport.
He was preceded in death by his wife;
parents; brothers-in-law, Stan Voran and Milt Ewert; and
sisters-in-law, Evelyn Lohrentz and Lola Lohrentz.
A celebration of life will be held at
11 a.m. Saturday (Oct. 20, 2018) at Shalom Mennonite Church, Newton.
The family requests memorials be made
to Camp Mennoscah in lieu of flowers and left in care of the Shalom
Mennonite Church.
