Margaret Lorenz

Margaret Lorenz, 95 of Rockville, Nebraska died peacefully surrounded by her family on April 3, 2025 at the Hillcrest Country Estates Cottages in Papillion, Nebraska. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 11, 2025 at St. Josaphat’s Catholic Church in Loup City, NE. Father Richard Piontkowski will celebrate the Mass. Burial will follow lunch at the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Rockville, NE. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Thursday, April 10, 2025 at the church with a Rosary to follow at 6:00 p.m. at the church. Memorials are suggested to the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Rockville, NE.

Margaret Rose Schnase Lorenz was born on March 24, 1930 to Benedict and Antonia Schachta Schnase in Loup City, Nebraska. Her faith and family dominated her life.

She was educated in rural Loup City, Ashton and Rockville schools. She graduated from Rockville High School as Valedictorian of her class in 1947. She was employed by the Commercial National Bank in Grand Island for 2 years before her marriage to Harold R. Lorenz on May 9, 1950.

She played an active role in working and managing the farm. She would study the fertilizer manuals; do research into balanced rations for the dairy cows; constantly searching for better breeding stock by traveling the state and reading new information on seed corn.

Not a farm girl, she became one and loved every bit of it. She was always active in her church along with her four children; a member of St. Mary’s Rockville since 1938 when her family moved from Ashton to Rockville. She served in every office in the DCCW; taught CCD for 11 years; and was very active in the Renew Program. She served as Lector, Minister of the Cup and leader in the Rockville, Loup City and Ravenna churches. She was a member of the Shepherds of the Flock Quest group at St. Josaphat’s Loup City. The Charismatic Conference of the Catholic Church in Grand Island was an annual renewal of her faith.

She was a huge promoter of 4-H and served as leader, assistant leader, member of the Sherman County Advisory Council and later as an awards donor. As a parent, along with her husband, she assisted each of her four children through 10 years of 4-H - almost exhausting the materials available.

When her youngest son was almost college bound, she embarked on a second career.  She became employed by the Nebraska Department of Heartland Human Services in 1980; first in the Loup City Office and later in the Broken Bow Office; leaving home at 5 am and back home at 6 pm.

She was completely devoted to her work and so much enjoyed helping the people who needed assistance. Her affiliations included the Director of the Loup City Chamber of Commerce, Advisory Council of Hospice out of St. Francis Hospital Grand Island, Advisory Council CNCS, Sacred Heart Auxiliary, American Legion Auxiliary and RAS Women’s Club. She attended Kearney State College in Psychology and became a Certified Social Worker in the State of Nebraska. She retired in 1998 from the Department of Health and Human Services to take a tour to the Holy Land.  Priests on the tour were Fr. Schmidt and Fr. Marty Egging, both of Grand Island.

In later years, she cared for her husband and enjoyed playing cards as part of the Gold Nugget Group in Boelus and the Rockville card club.

God always took first place in her life, followed by family and people, wildlife and nature, flowers and her green trimmed lawn. Education was so important to her, and she worked to see that her four children were highly educated in their fields. Music was important to her and dancing was the joy of her life. She loved fashion and her home.

She is survived by her children, Bob and Patricia Cook of Omaha, Kathy Thagard of Bellevue; Michael Lorenz (Victoria Ramold) of Fullerton and Mark and Anne Lorenz of Lincoln, nine grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren; one great great grandchild and a host of friends whom she dearly loved.  She is preceded in death by her husband, Harold Lorenz, Ben and Antonia Schnase, and her one sibling Irene Rauert of Grand Island.