Ronald J. Lorenz, age 81, of Lincoln, Nebraska, passed away on November 20, 2022, in Lincoln after a lingering illness of several years.

Ron, the oldest of 12 children, was born on November 17, 1941, to Joseph E. and Idella (Vlasin) Lorenz in Lincoln. After graduating from Crete High School in 1960, he joined the Nebraska Army National Guard Reserves for a period of 7 years.  He worked at home for a year before joining a construction crew and later assisted John Frew, another local farmer, in John's dairy farm and field work.

He married Judy (Rohrer) Lorenz of Friend, Nebraska on September 14, 1966. They lived on a farm southwest of Crete for the next 49 years before moving to south Lincoln in 2015.

Ron was a farmer and livestock feeder for most of his adult life.  He enjoyed using his talents and skills for designing, welding, and building things for use on the farm.

He actively participated in Nebraska Farm Bureau and served as county president for several years.  He spent over 40 years on the Saline County Planning and Zoning Commission. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus (serving as Grand Knight at one time) and a member of Sacred Heart Catholic church.

Ron served on the Saline County Extension board, as well as on the rural school board of District 25 in Saline County. He always showed "a welcome smile for all he met."

Ron is survived by his wife Judy of 56 years; daughter Julie and life partner John Kennett (daughter Evelyn) of Lincoln, son Dr. David Lorenz of Brighton, Massachusetts, grandsons Kyle Fritchie and fiancé Megan Sweet, and Jessiah Lorenz-Dauk of Lincoln.

Surviving siblings include brothers Bill (Barbara) Lorenz, Robert Lorenz, Daniel (Cheryl) Lorenz, and Father Bernard Lorenz; sisters Irene (Jim) Kearney, Joan (Ken) Stuhr, Ginny (Bud) Hummel, Joyce (Gordon) Moeller, Mary Jo Lorenz, and Leona Vocasek; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Marcia and Steve Clevenger of Guthrie, Oklahoma.

He is preceded in death by parents Joseph and Idella Lorenz, sister Dorothy Lorenz Cubrich-Shell, and brother-in-law Paul Rohrer.

Rosary and visitation will be held at Kuncl Funeral Home in Crete on Thursday, November 24, 2022, at 7:30 p.m., with family greeting visitors from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Funeral mass will be held on Friday, November 25, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Crete, Nebraska, celebrants Fr. Lorenz and Fr. Stoley.  Burial will be in Friend St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery at 1:30 p.m.   Memorials are established by the family for Parkinson Disease research and to the American Heart Association.  Arrangements entrusted to Kuncl Funeral Home in Crete.