Otto Lohrenz

Lohrenz, Otto

May 24, 1925 - September 15, 2023

Otto Lohrenz, a resident of Omaha, passed away September 15, 2023. He was born on the family farm near Owasso, Oklahoma, on May 24, 1925. His parents were Gerhard and Mary (Penner) Lohrenz. In 1927 the family relocated to Marion County, Kansas, where Otto grew up on several farms. He graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1943 and from Tabor College in 1950. Otto taught in the high schools of White Cloud, Kansas and St. John, Kansas from 1950 to 1963. He then earned his PhD. degree from the University of Kansas and served as Professor of History in the University of Nebraska at Kearney from 1966 until his retirement in 1990. In 1953, Otto married Elma Judith Jost, also a public-school teacher. After their retirement they enjoyed traveling, making 19 foreign trips. After 65 years their harmonious relationship came to an end when Elma died in 2018. In Kearney, Otto was an active member of Faith United Methodist Church and in Omaha he was a member of St. Luke United Methodist Church. As a historian, Otto became an authority on the subject: “The Anglican Clergy of Revolutionary Virginia.” Fifty of his articles on that subject were published in various historical journals. When Otto retired, he became a disciplined runner. He participated in many senior track meets and 5-K road races, earning 120 medals. At one point he held five records in the Nebraska Senior Games organization.
Surviving Otto are his two sons and spouses: Stuart Jon and Colleen of Rockford, Illinois and Murray Kent and Betty of Omaha; four grandchildren and their spouses: Dan Lohrenz (Courtney), Malorie Lohrenz Johnson (Joe), Annie Lohrenz Hilden (Peter), and Jon Lohrenz (Annie); and 13 great grandchildren. Additional immediate family members who predeceased Otto in addition to Elma and his parents, were three sisters, Clara, Linda, and Mary Lou, and their husbands and three brothers, Cornelius, Menno, and Rufus, and their wives.
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, September 26, 2023 at St. Luke United Methodist Church, 11810 Burke Street, Omaha, Nebraska, 68154 at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Alzheimer’s Association.