Obit: Gehrke, Lorena F. (1927 – 2020)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Gehrke, Bahn, Schroeder, Vanderhoof, Bottorff, Brandt, Hesselbein, Currie, West, Ertl, Probasco

Source: Tribune/Record/Gleaner (Abbotsford, WI) 29 Apr 2010

Gehrke, Lorena F. (20 JAN 1927 – 23 APR 2020)

Lorena F. Gehrke, 93, Spencer, passed away on Thursday, April 23, 2020, at Stoney River Assisted Living in Marshfield, under the care of St. Croix Hospice. Funeral services will be held privately at Life Tributes Funeral Home in Spencer with Rev. Daryn Bahn officiating. Lorena will be laid to rest in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in the town of Brighton. A Celebration of Life will be held when everyone can gather and hug safely.

Lorena was born on Jan. 20, 1927, at home in the town of Sherman, Clark County, the daughter of Munson B. and Florence (nee Schroeder) Vanderhoof. She attended Veefkind Elementary School and graduated from Loyal High School. She later took some classes at the Teacher’s College in Eau Claire. On June 7, 1947, she was united in marriage to Russell A. Gehrke at Salem Lutheran Church in the town of Sherman, Clark County. Sadly, he passed away on Feb. 19, 1996. Together they lived on a farm in the town of Sherman until 1958 when they bought a house and moved into the village of Spencer. Along with being a dedicated housewife and mother to her children, she worked as a janitor at Trinity Lutheran Church for 18 years. She was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church and taught Sunday school for 40 years. She also held the title of secretary and treasurer for the Spencer American Legion Auxiliary for about 50 years. Lorena enjoyed gardening and was skilled at sewing and embroidering work. She loved to sing and loved to bake everything from cookies to pies and cakes. She would always have something baking in the oven when her children and grandchildren would come to visit.

Survivors include her children: Larry (Roger Bottorff) Gehrke of Chicago, Ill., Dianne (Ronald) Currie of Spencer, and Peggy (Craig) Brandt of Loyal; her granddaughters: Erin (Chris Hesselbein) Currie of Portland, Ore., and Sarah (Matthew) West of Neenah; her great-grandchildren: Elizabeth and Nathan West; her brother, Robert (Donna) Vanderhoof of Northfield, Minn.; her sisters-in-law: Arlene Gehrke of Zephyrhills, Fla., and Ilse Vanderhoof of Roy, Utah; and many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, other relatives and friends.

Lorena was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Russell; her son, Wayne; her brothers: Harvey (in infancy), Albert and Munson Jr.; her sister, Janet Ertl; her brother-in-law, Orin Gehrke; and her niece and godchild, Carey Probasco.

In lieu of flowers, the family will be accepting memorials in Lorena’s name for a charity to be determined later.

The family would like to give a special thank you to the staff at Stoney River Assisted Living and St. Croix Hospice for the wonderful care that they provided for her. She would always have a great big smile for them. Lorena’s

Arrangements are under the care of Life Tributes Funeral Home-Spencer. Please visit www.lifetributesfuneralhome.com  to share condolences.