Obituaries

Lorene Unrau

Lorene UnrauLorene Unrau, age 66 of Spirit Lake, formerly of Hartley, passed away at her home in Spirit Lake on Monday, July 21st.

Funeral services will be held Friday, July 25th at 11:00 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Spirit Lake, with burial at Pleasant View Cemetery in Hartley.

Visitation will be Thursday, July 24th from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with the family present from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday evening and Friday, July 25th from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at the Hartley Funeral Home.

The Hartley Funeral Home in Hartley is in charge of the arrangements for 66 year-old Lorene Unrau of Spirit Lake, IA, formerly of Hartley, IA.

Lorene Mae (Puhrmann) Unrau, the daughter of Ray and Alma (Riebesell) Puhrmann, was born April 22, 1948 on a farm northwest of Paullina, Iowa. She received her Christian and elementary education at Zion Lutheran Church and School in Paullina, graduating from 8th grade in May of 1962, and was confirmed in June of 1962. She attended Paullina Community High School, graduating in May of 1966. She then attended Northwest Iowa Vocational School in Sheldon, graduating in June of 1967. She was employed at Van Iperen Feed and Grain in Hospers until she was united in marriage to her high school sweetheart and best friend, Dennis L. Unrau on November 2, 1968. To this union 2 sons were born, Gary and Brent, both of Hartley. They farmed north of Hartley from January 1970 until November 1986 when they moved into Hartley. In May of 2004, they moved to their lake home on East Lake Okoboji. Lorene was the elementary secretary at the HMS School District for 20 years and then worked as Office Director at Camp Okoboji for another 12 years. Lorene passed away at her home on July 21, 2014 having reached the age of 66.

Lorene was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Spirit Lake and the Y’adnom service club in Hartley. Her greatest joy was her grandkids. She enjoyed babysitting them, watching them play in the lake, fish and go boating. She enjoyed attending as many of their activities as possible. She enjoyed the many vacations with sisters and brothers-in-law. She enjoyed 500 Card Club with the Hartley Bunch and the breakfast fellowship following Sunday services with old Hartley friends and new friends from the lakes. She enjoyed sitting on the deck during the summer just watching all the activity and golfing.

Lorene is survived by her husband, Dennis of Spirit Lake, IA, their son’s: Gary (Allison Van Buskirk) of Hartley and their children, Jordan and Faith; and son, Brent (Amber Johnson) of Hartley and their children, Courtney, Madison, Danielle, Taylor, Tavian and Teagan; two sisters, Marlys Fear of Olds, IA and Norma (Richard) Johnson of LeMars, IA.; a brother Larry (Cindy Moos) Puhrmann of Nashota, WI; mother-in-law, Sylvia Unrau of Hartley, IA.; two brothers-in-law and their wives; Jim (Joan) Unrau of Spencer, IA and Randy (Jean) Unrau of Paullina, IA and many other friends and relatives.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Alma Puhrmann; father-in-law, Theodore Unrau; brother-in-law, Gaylon Fear; and many uncles; aunts; nephews; nieces and close friends.

Share: