Donald Lorenz

Donald "Don" Lorenz, age 81, Aberdeen, formerly of Clark, died peacefully late Friday afternoon, December 20, 2013 in the Manor Care Center at Aberdeen. Visitation will be held on Sunday, December 22, 2013 from 3-5PM with a Liturgical Wake Service beginning at 5PM all in the Furness Funeral Home Chapel at Clark. Visitation will continue in the Church on Monday morning after 9AM. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, December 23, 2013 at 10:30 AM in the St. Michael's Catholic Church at Clark with The Reverend John Short officiating. Music willbe proved by the St. Michael's Choir. The active casketbearers will be Ethan Audus, Roger Chapin, Ron Lamb, Dick Hilmoe, Bob Seefeldt, and Jim Fiedler and the Honorary casketbearers: Lions Club and Clark Fire Department and all other friends and family. Burial will be in the St. Boniface Cemetery at Clark at a later date. Don was born September 5, 1932, in Clark to Ernest and Ida (Curtis) Lorenz. The sixth of eight children, Don grew up on the family farm and attended Lincoln Township country school. He left the farm in 1955 and worked in the Redfield lumberyard but returned to farm after his father's death. In 1958 Don was united in marriage with Angie Smith, and they made their home in Clark. Throughout his life, Don worked a variety of jobs: in the early 60s he worked for the State Highway Department and Northern Natural gas; then for several years he delivered bulk fuel for the Clark Country Co-op. In the mid 1970s started his own carpentry and cement business and continued in that line of work until 2004 when both he and Angie retired. Don and Angie were married 55 years and have two children, Sharel and Gene. Don was an active member of the Clark community; he was a charter member of the Lions and served as president for a time. During the summer, Don often umpired and in 1978 was presented with a certificate of appreciation from the Clark High School Athletic Department for his assistance at football games. He worked for many years on the Clark Country Ambulance crew as an EMT, served on the City Council, was an NRA instructor, and was a 26 year member of the Clark Fire Department where he served as fire chief from 1979 - 1981. In 2004, Don received the prestigious Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) Award In addition, he was a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church, served on the church council, and volunteered many years of service removing snow from the sidewalks prior to mass. In his spare time, Don was an avid outdoorsman; he loved hunting and fishing with his friends, son, and grandchildren. Most of all he was an avid spectator of any activity that involved his children or grandchildren, and although his deteriorating health made it difficult for him to attend sporting events in the last few years, he was always there in spirit and was proud of their accomplishments. Another pastime Don enjoyed was bowling. Don is survived by his wife Angie of Aberdeen, his daughter Sharel (Duard) Delzer of Eureka, SD, and their children Cody of Madison, SD, and Dylan of Sioux Falls; Gene (Marlene) and their children Lucas and Kennedy, all of Aberdeen; two brothers and two sisters: James (Adeline) of Wells, MN; Ted (Shirley) of Sioux Falls, SD; Francis Ritter, Rapid City; and Wilma Bull of Watertown; one brother-in-law Oscar (Joyce) Wenholm, Jr., as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Don was preceded in death by his father, mother, one brother Phil, and two sisters Evelyn and Margaret. The Furness Funeral Home of Clark is serving the family where there is an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com