Lohrenz, Leander John (1928-2007)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2007 Apr 9 p. 17

Birth date: 1928 Jun 26

text of obituary:

LEANDER JOHN LOHRENZ

Leander “Lee” John Lohrenz, 78, of Lawrence, Kan., died Feb. 20, 2007, at his winter home in Yuma, Ariz. He was born June 26, 1928, to Jacob W. and Mary Seibel Lohrenz.

He grew up on the family farm near Aulne, Kan., and graduated from Hillsboro High School. He attended Tabor College in Hillsboro, then taught in a one-room country school for two years.

He was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in counter-intelligence in Germany. He remained in the Army Reserves and achieved the rank of colonel.

After active duty, he returned to his education and graduated from Wichita State University in 1955. He later earned his master’s degree and doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Kansas. After completing his education, he worked at the VA Hospital in Leavenworth and at the Menninger Foundation in Topeka.

In both settings he helped begin an alcohol treatment program. He entered private practice in 1976. He served as president of the Kansas Psychological Association and the Kansas Association of Professional Psychologists.

At WSU he met his future wife, Marguerite Hardesty, and they were married Sept. 2, 1957.

He was baptized as a youth in Ebenfeld Mennonite Brethren Church of rural Hillsboro.

He appreciated his Mennonite heritage and recently enjoyed a Mennonite Heritage Cruise to the Ukraine.

In later years he joined Wyandotte United Methodist Church and currently was a member of First United Methodist Church in Lawrence. He was a member of Kiwanis clubs in Leavenworth and Lawrence and of the Military Officers Association.

Survivors include his wife, Marguerite; three children, Lee Ann Lohrenz of Santa Ana, Calif., Mark Lohrenz of Lawrence, and Lori Teague and her husband, Earl, of Keller, Texas; a stepsister, Arlene Rempel of Peabody; and five grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Paul, who died in infancy; and three sisters, Zelma Thiessen, Luella Wohlgemuth and Leona Ginn.

Funeral services were held at Wyandotte United Methodist Church in Kansas City, Kan.