Lorenz, Clementine (Reinbold) 1931 - 2018

LORENZ, REINBOLD, BUCKLEY, ITTNER, DOLD, SCHULTE

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/19/2024 at 21:00:45

Clementine Lorenz, age 87, of Decorah, IA, died on Tuesday, June 12, 2018 at the Barthell O.E.S Home in Decorah, IA.

A private family memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 16, 2018 with inurnment at a later date in the St. Benedict’s Cemetery in Decorah.

Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m., until 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 16, 2018 at the Schluter-Balik Funeral Home, 604 South Ave, in Decorah, IA.

Clementine “Clema” (Reinbold) Lorenz was born on March 27, 1931, in Russia by the Black Sea. She lived with her parents, brother, and two sisters. Her family of German heritage had lived in Russia dating back to the 1700s. Her maternal grandfather owned a brick factory and her father came from a farming background. They were successful and the economy was strong, until the rise of Communism throughout the country. In 1937, Communist party members came to their home and arrested Clema’s father, and shortly thereafter her brother. Both died in Stalin’s death camps. Clema, her mother, and her two sisters were sent by train to labor camps in Siberia. After four years on the run as refugees, Clema, then only 10 years old, and her remaining family arrived in Germany. The country was in unrest and at war, thus offering little solace to the refugees. Clema was private about her experiences early in her life. Since she faced such traumatic situations in youth, she continued to be a strong and resilient person in adulthood.

Clema followed her mother and sister to Chicago in 1955. There, she met her future husband Frank in 1958 on the dance floor. Frank and Clema were married on June 27,1959 and continued to live in Chicago for 12 years. During their time in the city, they welcomed three daughters into the world. After years of hard work, they purchased a farm near Highlandville, Iowa, in 1970. Clema knew Sabine Heid from her time as a refugee who had settled in northeast Iowa. The rolling hills and vast farmland reminded Clema of the European countryside and it felt like home. Frank and Clema decided to stop farming in 1986, as it became difficult to stay afloat in the 80s when the economy was poor. Frank and Clema rented out the farmhouse, put the land in CRP, and moved back to Chicago where they managed a large apartment complex (128 units). They did small repairs, yardwork, and prepared apartments for new tenants. They enjoyed their work and worked well together. They retired in 1993 and returned back to Iowa to their Highlandville farm. Later in life, they sold their beloved farmhouse and built Clema’s dream house on their farmland in 2007. They lived there for nearly six years. When Frank became ill, they sold the new house and moved to a condo on Mill Street. They lived there for approximately one year before moving to Arlin Falck Assisted Living in March 2015. Frank continues to reside in Arlin Falck Assisted Living. They still own a portion of their farmland.

Clema is survived by her husband Frank, her daughters Caryn (Bruce) Buckley of Cresco, Iowa, and Eva (Klaus) Ittner of Barrington, Illinois, and her five grandchildren: Tony Dold, Katie Schulte, Alex Schulte, Stefan Buckley and Kirsten Ittner. Clema was preceded in death by her parents Friedrich and Veronika Reinbold, her brother Petrus and her sisters Anastasia and Rosa, along with her daughter Monica.

Clema was a woman of strong faith and always had a strong work ethic. She worked long hours together with her husband, but most of all she enjoyed taking care of the farm animals which often required her special touch. She also found great joy in cooking, baking, gardening, reading, crocheting and spending time with her family. Her amazing cooking and baking talents continue to be the topic of many conversations. Though Clema remained humble in life, she will be remembered as a truly remarkable woman, whose hospitality and kind spirit will continue to inspire all those who had the honor of knowing her.

Source: Schluter - Balik Funeral Home database

St. Benedict Cemetery
 

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