Elaine Lorenz

ELAINE LORENZ

Cedar Rapids

Elaine Frances Lorenz, 86, of Cedar Rapids, went to be with her Lord on July 6 at the Donna and Dennis Oldorf Hospice House, surrounded by her loving family.

A visitation will be held Monday, July 9, from

4 to 7 p.m. with a prayer service at 7 p.m. at Cedar

Memorial Park Funeral Home, Cedar Rapids. The

funeral Mass will be held July 10 at 10:30 a.m. at St.

Matthew Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids. Burial will follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Cedar Rapids,

followed by a luncheon at St. Matthew.

Elaine was born on Sept. 24, 1931, in Dubuque, Iowa, to parents Bill and Irene Heitz. Elaine graduated from Mount Mercy Junior College in 1951. She then proceeded to Mount Carmel in Dubuque where she spent two years in the convent. After that she taught at Immaculate Conception in Cedar Rapids for a couple of years and then went on to Clarke College in Dubuque to finish her bachelor's degree in education. Upon completion of her degree, she taught in the Cedar Rapids public school system.

She then met the love of her life, Robert Lorenz, and they were united in marriage on June 14, 1958. From this beautiful union they created seven children. They were blessed to be able to celebrate their 60th

anniversary this past June. Elaine was a woman of strong faith. Throughout her years she taught in the

religious education programs at St. Patrick and

St. Matthew, as well as several prayer groups where she made lifelong friends. Daily prayer was an important part of her life. Being a wife and raising seven children was her true enjoyment. Her patience, faith, family

values and selflessness made her a truly beautiful

woman, wife, mother, grandmother and

great-grandmother.

Elaine is survived by her husband of 60 years, Bob, and her seven children, Bob (Deb) of Cedar Rapids, Mary Mikkola (Ron) of Marion, Dick (Jenny) of Marion, Jim (Mollie) of Marion, Theresa Whittlesey (Pete) of Fairfax, Paul (Annette) of Cedar Rapids and Kathy Franz (Scott) of Cedar Rapids. She also is survived by her 17 grandchildren, Jennifer Dechant (Drew), Amy Crnecki (Zach), Holly Sitzmann (Eric), Christine Goslar (Jake), Danielle Manternach (Dave), Travis, Brooke, Emma, Leah, Blake, Richelle Caslavka (Zach), Zach, Delaney, Heather Bohl (Brad), John, Matthew and Michael; her six great-grandchildren, Avery, Chloe, Owen, Henry, Aubrey and Emmett, as well as two more who will

arrive in the fall.

In lieu of flowers, memorials will be directed to

charities that were meaningful to Elaine - Catholic

Relief Services and the Mercy Hospice.

Online condolences may be left at

www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.