Richard Lorenz

          Richard A. Lorenz , 89, of Grant Park passed away on Tuesday, March 7, 2023 peacefully at home with his family present.

            He was born on June 27, 1933 to Albert and Alma (Yunker) Lorenz in Joliet IL. He was raised on a farm where he learned the valuable lessons of responsibility and work ethics. He attended Yunker Grade School and Orland Park High School. He played sports and was a 4H member showing cattle. He met the love of his life, Marie Seggebruch, through the Rural Youth Program. They married on March 6, 1954, and celebrated 67 years. Shortly after their marriage he was drafted in the Army serving in Germany. After serving his 2 years of active duty he returned to the states to Frankfort, then moving to Beecher where he started farming and then to Grant Park where he continued farming crops and livestock. He has resided in Grant Park for 70 plus years.

            Surviving are his children; Larry (Brenda) Lorenz of Grant Park, Rose Marie (Paul) Kleine of Cedar Lake IN, Jerry (Kim) Lorenz of Grant Park, and Kathy Johnson of Manhattan KS; 14 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and his caregiver Jerry Szary.  Preceding him in death are his wife, Marie Lorenz; his parents and sister, Shirley Tuttle; and brother, Donald Lorenz.

            Richard loved his family and farming. He was very active in the community and agriculture industry. He was a member of Immanuel United Church of Christ in Peotone for over 55 years serving as Elder for 3 years, Trustee for 5 years, served on many building improvement committees, and was a member of Men’s Club and played Dart Ball for 53 years.

He served on the Grant Park School Board for 6 years (President for 2 years) supporting the sports programs and the building of the present High School and served on the Kankakee Iroquois Regional School Board for 23 years. He coached Grant Park Little League Baseball and attended numerous sports activities cheering on his own & other school children.

 He worked for Sumner Township plowing snow and rescuing stranded or snowbound people and served on the Whitaker Farmers Elevator for 3 years.  He served on the Kankakee Farm Bureau & FHA board (serving 3 years as Director for the Financial & Management Bookkeeping Committee). He also served on the Kankakee County Soil & Water Conservation Committee for 6 years.

Richard loved farming and shared those values and love with his children and grandchildren. He actively farmed for 45 years in Grant Park raising crops and livestock. He supported his wife with her 4H Club and his children in their 25 years of showing cattle and dogs in 4H. Richard was a member of the Kankakee & Will County Livestock Association for 10 years. He was recognized as the Kankakee Outstanding Young Farmer. He has also served 20 years as the cattle superintendent for Will County Fair.

 He is a member 3 Antique Tractor Clubs including the Green Club (despite that he only owns red tractors). He loved to participate in the antique tractor pulls, parades, shows and drives with his Red International 560 (Marie’s tractor). He has won many awards.   

Visitation will be from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday, March 17, at Fedde-Helfrich-Cross Funeral Home in Peotone. An additional time for visitation will be from 10:00 am Saturday March 18, until the 11:00 a.m. funeral services at Immanuel United Church of Christ in Peotone, with Rev. Tom Norwalk and Nancy Wheeler officiating.  Interment will be in the Peotone Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Grant Park Alumni Agricultural Association in memory. For information or share a memory at www.feddehelfrichcrossfh.com