Late on Sunday, March 27, 2022, Joan Carol Lorenz heard her Savior’s invitation, “Come, blessed of my Father, whom I have redeemed and inherit that which has been prepared for you and you have received by faith of My Spirit whom I sent.”

Empowered by that Faith, given by grace through the Gospel, through which He gave to her all-spiritual gifts and has kept her in the true faith. That faith responded and the angels ushered her into eternal life with the Father, His Son, and The Holy Spirit.

Joan has experienced what the Apostle John saw in a vision on the Island of Patmos, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His Temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Rev. 7: 13-17)

Joan’s earthly journey began on Sept. 12, 1937, in Luverne, Minn.. She was the second child born to Elmer Martin Anderson and Esther Lavina (Halverson) Anderson. With babe in arms, her mother asked Elmer, “What name shall we give to our beautiful daughter?” Elmer happened to look down and there was written on a box of candy he had brought for her, “Joan Carol Candies”. So, he replied, “Joan Carol Anderson!” So it was given and remained! But, at her baptism, the Pastor announced her name as “John Carol Anderson!” Her mother quickly set him straight and “Joan Carol” was baptized into the Christian faith by water and the word.

Throughout her childhood, she attended Zion Lutheran Church and Elementary School in Hardwick, Minn. Moving on, she attended and graduated from High School in Luverne, Minn. From there she attended Concordia College in St. Paul, Minn., where she graduated in 1957 with a degree in elementary education and that fall began her teaching career at St. John’s Lutheran Elementary School in Glendale, N.Y.

After her teaching career, Joan became a travel agent, trained and serving AAA in Minneapolis, and other travel agencies as she moved about this great country of ours with her husband, Dennis Lorenz, whom she met at Concordia College and after a long courtship accepted his proposal to become his life’s helpmate. They were married on July 12, 1961.

During the 62 years they shared together, by God’s grace, she also served as a library assistant in four different communities between birthing and raising three special children: Gretchen Carol, Timothy Jon, and Andrew Martin.

Her husband packed her up and moved her to serve congregations from the Seminary in Springfield, Ill.; to Niagara Falls, N.Y.; Holliston, Mass.; Faribault, Minn.; Chanhassen, Minn.; Tucson, Ariz.; Bellevue, Wash.; Farmington, Mich.; and then (finally) in 1995 to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho where she and Dennis have remained to this very day.

On March 27, she left her husband, Dennis; her daughter, Gretchen (friend John) of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; and sons, Andrew of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and Timothy (wife, Deborah) of Scottsdale, Ariz.; three special grandchildren: Steven Otten of Gilbert, Ariz., Curtiss Otten of Indianapolis, Ind., and Jonathan Ryan (friend Gabi) of Spokane Valley, Wash. Then there are three very special great-grandchildren: Olivia Patricia Otten and Adelynn Ruth Otten of Gilbert, Ariz.; and Michelangelo Lee Ryan of Spokane Valley, Wash.

Oh, I forgot to mention “Polly” who still looks for her every morning. Joan also leaves her sisters, Judith of Eugene, Ore., Janice (Allyn) of Red Wing, Minn.; brothers: Orrin (Karen) of Sioux Falls, S.D., Robert (Rossie) of Tracey, Minn., and Bruce (Linda) of Egan, Minn.; her sister-in-law, Kathleen Ann (Phillip) of Hoffman, Minn., along with many nieces and nephews, wonderful friends and so many parishioners with whom she worshipped and served Jesus Christ.

A Service of Praise and Thanksgiving to God for His love, grace, and mercy will be held at 11 a.m., on Saturday, April 23, 2022, at Christ the King Lutheran Church. To God be all the glory!

Yates Funeral Home has been entrusted with her arrangements. Please visit Joan’s online memorial and sign her guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com