Bernice Lorentz

The Mass of Christian Burial for Bernice Evelyn Lorentz, of Wadena, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 8, 2014, at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Wadena, with Father Aaron Kuhn as celebrant. Friends may call on Friday at St. Ann’s Parish Center from 4:00-8:00 p.m. with Prayers at 5:00 and Rosary at 6:00 p.m. Visitation will resume at the church on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of Mass. Surrounded by her family, Bernice passed away at the age of 75, on Tuesday, March 4, 2014, at the St. Cloud Hospital. Bernice was born to Lloyd Edwin and Frances Barbara (Zimmerman) Ellingworth on June 2, 1938, in Compton Township, Otter Tail County, MN. She attended Wadena Public Schools and graduated with the Class of 1956. She was united in marriage with Isadore “Nibs” A. Lorentz on February 4, 1957, at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Wadena. Bernice worked as a bookkeeper until retiring in 2002. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother who happily filled her hours playing cards with family and friends, taking trips to a casino, or going to the lake to fish or build a bonfire! Most of all, she treasured spending time with her family. She was a member of the VFW Auxiliary. Bernice was preceded in death by her parents Lloyd and Frances; brothers Warren, Lloyd, Jr. and infant brother Norman; sister Marlyce Carter and infant sister Jeanette; and daughter-in-law Yvonne. She is survived by her husband Nibs of Wadena; sons Gary of Duluth, Kevin (Ginger) of Brainerd, Jeffrey (Barb) of Wadena, Bill (Jess) of Watkins, and Kelly of Sauk Rapids; daughters Terri (Pat) Czech of St. Stephen, Tammy (Keven) Ness of Sauk Rapids, and Kimberly (Steve) Schmitz of Wadena; 18 grandchildren & one great-grandchild; brothers Raymond (Susan) Ellingworth of New York Mills and John (Debbie) Ellingworth of Hudson, WI; sisters Darlene Airhart of Crosby, Ramona Olson of Menahga and Peggy (Gerald) Porter of Deer Creek; along with sister-in-law Delores Rentz of Verndale; sister-in-law Carmen Ellingworth of New York Mills; brother-in-law Jack Carter of St. Cloud. Serving as pallbearers will be Isaac Lorentz grandson, Brandon Lorentz grandson, McKay Ness grandson, Alex Lorentz grandson, Finn Lorentz grandson, Sean Blaisdell grandson-in-law, Brandon Theisen grandson-in-law. Burial will be in Leaf River Cemetery in rural Wadena.

Bernice Lorentz

June 2, 1938 - March 4, 2014