Carlton, Loraine Anoka (1924-2012)

CARLTON, SCHNIRRING, GREGG, EVANS, LEVERANZ, SCHRADER, ELLINGSON

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 7/22/2012 at 15:13:53

Loraine Anoka Carlton
May 05, 1924 - July 11, 2012

Storm Lake, Iowa, and formerly of Sac City, Iowa

Loraine A. Carlton, age 88, of Storm Lake, Iowa, and formerly of Sac City, Iowa, passed away July 11, 2012, at the Methodist Manor Retirement Community in Storm Lake.

Loraine Schnirring was the first child born to Homer and Gladys Gregg Schnirring on May 5, 1924, in Sac City, Iowa. While she was growing up, her family lived in a two-bedroom house on Audubon Street near the Sac County shed, Sac City Produce, and the Chicago Northwest Railroad depot.

Loraine was baptized in the old Christian Church in Sac City where she joined on Easter Sunday, 1936. What a young evangelist Loraine must have been with a strong faith then and an even firmer faith that grew through the years. After being baptized, however, she said they missed very few Sundays.

In 1942, both Loraine and Darwin D. Carlton graduated from Sac City High School. Loraine went to school with him, but the two paid little attention to each other until the last year of high school. Darwin, then, enlisted in the Merchant Marines under the jurisdiction of the United States Navy. Following graduation, Loraine worked as a telephone operator in the old Central Telephone office building near the Post Office in Sac City. Eight months later, she went to work for the Selective Service in Iowa registering 18-year-olds and sending them for physicals before they were inducted into the military in preparation to fight in World War II.

On one of Darwin’s trips home, he gave Loraine a diamond while they were in a little club in Carroll, Iowa. On January 6, 1946, they married in the Sac City Christian Church. That same wedding day, Darwin transferred his membership from the First Presbyterian Church to the First Christian Church. After the wedding, they went to Sioux City, and then eastward to Kenton, Ohio, where his mom, sister, and other relatives lived. All too soon, Darwin had to return to his ship and Loraine to her job with the Selective Service.

Loraine continued working until the birth of her first child and then stayed at home until all seven children were in school. Subsequently, she worked for a cannery, the Citizens Savings Bank in Sac City, and Loring Hospital.

Even though she thought she wanted twelve children, Loraine discovered seven was enough! Later, Loraine and Darwin became foster parents for a child named Brandon, and Loraine often babysat for many other children. They never had a dull moment with Church and Sunday School, Boy Scouts, Campfire Girls, band programs, and piano lessons as well as sports.

Loraine sure knew how to cook and how to stretch food. Sundays were always family days with fried chicken along with fresh baked pies and breads which were really scrumptious.

Leaving Sac City, Loraine and Darwin moved to a Storm Lake apartment complex in 1995 where they made their home and many new friends. Following Darwin’s death on 2008, Loraine continued helping others. She was active in donating her time and baked goods for the complex's garage sales and making quilts in the "Hands" program for those in need. Yet, she found time to play cards, Scrabble, and Bingo.

Later, Loraine moved to Wel-Life in Alta, an assisted living complex, where she made her home. She was adored and loved by both residents and staff. In Alta, Loraine attended and became a member of the Church of Christ, which meant so much to her. Loraine will be remembered by her words, "I'll be going to church tomorrow, so you'll have to wait and call later." And, she did attend while her health allowed.

Although Loraine didn't think she was doing anything special over the years, her kids knew better. Very special to all of them, she provided them with all that they needed, but most importantly, she gave them all the love she could muster.

Those left to cherish her memory include her children: Robert (Karen) Carlton, of Waukon, Iowa, Sherry (Terry) Evans, of Sacramento, California, Darwin, Jr., (Judy) Carlton, of Raymore, Missouri, G. Scott Carlton, of Springfield, Missouri, Margo (Larry) Leveranz, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Doug (Judy) Carlton, of Newell, Iowa, and Penny (Jeff) Schrader, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; her foster child, Brandon Ellingson, of Cedar Falls, Iowa; fifteen grandchildren; and twenty-six great grandchildren with twin grandbabies to arrive soon; as well as extended family and friends.

Loraine was preceded in death by her parents, Homer and Gladys Schnirring; her brother, Wilbur Dean; and her husband, Darwin Carlton.

Loraine Carlton, our Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma, and Aunt will surely be missed by many, but never so much as by her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephew.

Memorial Service: 10:30 a.m., July 14, 2012, at the Church of Christ in Alta, Iowa.
Visitation: 5:00-8:00 p.m., July 13, 2012, at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake, Iowa.
Interment: July 14, 2012, at Oakland Cemetery in Sac City, Iowa.

Copyright © 2012, Fratzke and Jensen Funeral Home

Fratzke and Jensen Funeral Home
 

Buena Vista Obituaries maintained by LaVern Velau.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen