Florence 'Flo' Lorenz

Florence P. “Flo” Lorenz, 91, of Jackson, formerly of Shawneetown, passed away Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, at the Villas of Jackson.

She was born Dec. 27, 1927, in Altenburg, Missouri, to Anton and Mary Palisch Schade. She was baptized at home and confirmed and married at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Altenburg. She attended Altenburg Public Grade School and was a 1946 graduate of Perryville (Missouri) High School. After high school, Flo moved to St. Louis, where she met her future husband, Melvin, on a blind date, only to find out they were raised 7 miles from each other. She and Melvin were married June 5, 1949; four children were born to their union, and they had been married 57 years when Melvin passed away Sept. 30, 2006.

Florence 'Flo' Lorenz

Flo and Melvin started their family in St. Louis and returned to Shawneetown in 1954. She was a cook at the former Owl Shanty Truck Stop in Fruitland and the former Fruitland Auction Barn. She then worked many years for Tom and Vanita Jones at the former Frontier Store and Kitchen in Fruitland. Flo was well known for her delicious homemade pies and was awarded a commemorative plaque upon making 10,000 pies. She retired in 1996. She was also a correspondent for the Cash-Book Journal in Jackson and the Republic Monitor in Perry County, and served as a poll judge in New Wells.

She was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Shawneetown, its Ladies’ Aid, LWML, formerly taught children’s Sunday school, and attended Thursday morning Bible study. With her specialty being cooking, she was a project leader in the Shawnee 4-H Club. She was an avid gardener of flowers and vegetables, enjoyed canning and crocheting and often submitted entries in the East Perry County Fair.

Loving survivors include four children, Bruce (Maxine) Lorenz, Gail (Larry) Leimbach, Lori (Bob) Ulrich, and Kirk (Barbara) Lorenz, all of Jackson; five grandchildren, Chris Lorenz, Casey Lorenz and Bridget Ulrich, all of Jackson, Matthew Ulrich of Marble Hill, Missouri, and Kody Lorenz of Jackson; and two sisters-in-law, Leota (the late Erwin) Lorenz and Berniece (the late Edgar) Lorenz of Jackson.

She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; a brother, Leo (Verna) Schade; four brothers-in-law, Wilbert (Nora) Lorenz, Erwin Lorenz, Elmer (Frieda) Lorenz and Edgar Lorenz; and a sister-in-law, Hilda (Edmar) Dreyer.

Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. today at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson and from 10 a.m. to service time Tuesday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Shawneetown.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the church, with the Rev. Virgil Kelm officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to Trinity Ladies’ Aid.