Berniece Lorenz

Berniece D. Lorenz, 92, of Shawneetown passed away Tuesday, March 10, 2020, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

She was born March 7, 1928, in Shawneetown to Charles and Dora Starzinger Schlimpert. She and Edgar Lorenz were married Jan. 19, 1947, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Shawneetown. Three children were born to their union. They had been married 54 years when Edgar passed away Jan. 20, 2001.

Berniece was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Shawneetown, attended the former church school and was a lifelong member of the church. At the age of 14, she began playing the organ, a responsibility she kept for 75 years. She was also a member of the Ladies Aid and Lutheran Women's Missionary League and sewed many quilts for World Relief.

Berniece was Edgar's right hand on their farm near Shawneetown. She took great pride in flower gardening and lawn maintenance and also enjoyed vegetable gardening and canning. These talents made Berniece the perfect fit in her service as an effective 4-H leader in Shawneetown. One of Berniece's greatest joys was her love of playing beautiful music on piano and organ.

Loving survivors include her children, Dwayne (Paula) Lorenz of Sikeston, Missouri, and Marsha (Jim) Buchheit of Longtown, Missouri; daughter-in-law, Donna (the late Darrell) Lorenz of Festus, Missouri; grandchildren, Nathan, Nick, Dustin and Devin Lorenz, Nena Wright, Tyler and Alex Buchheit; nine great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Leota (the late Erwin) Lorenz of Jackson; and many friends at The Villas of Jackson, where she resided the past two years.

She was preceded in death by her husband; son, Darrell Lorenz; parents; and siblings and their spouses, Lawrence (Leona), Edgar (Melba), and Clarence (Wilma) Schlimpert, Gertie (Ruben) Meyr and Loraine (Addie) Fiedler. Edgar's late siblings and spouses were Wilbert (Nora), Elmer (Freida), Erwin and Melvin (Florence) Lorenz and Edmar (Hilda) Dreyer.

Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. to service time Saturday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Shawneetown.

The funeral will be at 11:30 a.m. Saturday 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 Lutheran Church in Shawneetown.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.