Marie Lorenz

Marie Lorenz, age 87, of Grant Park, IL, passed away on Good Friday, April 2, 2021 at Beecher Manor Nursing and Rehab Center in Beecher, IL.

She was born on July 19, 1933 to Walter and Grace (Turner) Seggebruch in Chicago Heights, IL and was raised on a Hereford cattle fam in Crete, IL.  Marie attended a one room school for grade school and graduated from Crete-Monee High School.

Marie met and then married the love of her life, Richard Lorenz, on March 6, 1954.  They lived in Germany for a period of time while her husband was stationed there in the United States Army.  They returned home to live in Frankfort, IL; then moving to first to Beecher, IL and then to Grant Park, IL where they have resided for the last 59 years.

Marie is survived by her husband, Richard; and her children, Larry (Brenda) Lorenz of Grant Park, IL, RoseMarie (Paul) Kleine of Cedar Lake, IN, Jerry (Kim) Lorenz of Grant Park, IL, and Kathy (Earl) Johnson of Clay Center, KS.  She has 14 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Fred Seggebruch; and a twin sister, Millie Martenson.  Marie loved her family and special pet, Buster, more than anything else in this world.  She was a partner with her husband farming, driving tractors, hauling loads, and helping with the chores of a farm and livestock operation.

She worked at Goldblatts in Chicago Heights for several years.  She also worked for the Fette Hair Salon, helped with auction set up for Lorenz Auction Services, and was the friendly “Hardware Lady” at Hupe Hardware in Peotone for 20 years.

Marie was very active in her community and the lives of others.  She is a member of Immanuel United Church of Christ in Peotone where she served as a Sunday School Teacher, Women’s Guild, Coffee Hour, and served many dinners for funerals and other church related activities.  She was a member of the Ladies Home Bureau and Ladies Cattlemen’s Club (promoting beef with many demonstrations).  She was also very active with the Grant Park Schools serving with the P.T.O, and was an involved parent assisting with plays, music and band programs, served as a room mother, and was a teacher’s aide for first grade for about 6 months at Grant Park Elementary School.  She continued her volunteer career and was most proud of being a Leader of the Grant Park Lucky Leaves, later known as Grant Park LL & SS for 25 years.

She touched many a youth’s lives through her years and was fondly remembered by many.  Marie always had an open door policy at her home for anyone, child or adult, providing a temporary home for many or even those that got stranded in the snow on the road by the farm.  Marie always said, “there is no such thing as a bad child” and she believed that with all her heart!  Her last volunteer career was working with the Hospice of Kankakee Valley.

Visitation will be held at the Fedde-Helfrich-Cross Funeral Home on Friday, April 9 from 3:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.  Funeral services will be held at Immanuel United Church of Christ in Peotone on Saturday, April 10 at 11:00 a.m., Rev. John Billow and Nancy Wheeler officiating.  There will be visitation at the church from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Due to the global health pandemic (Covid-19) the wearing of a face covering will be required to enter the funeral home and the church for the funeral service and social distancing must be observed.  Interment will be at Peotone Cemetery.  Memorials in Marie’s name may be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association or the American Diabetes Association.  Sign the guestbook at www.feddehelfrichcrossfh.com