Lorene A. Rosenthal

Lorene Alma (Steinhoff) Rosenthal, one of six children of Louis and Sophia (Ehlers) Steinhoff, was born September 30, 1920 at Syracuse, Nebraska. She was baptized October 20, 1920 and confirmed April 13, 1935, and attended school in Syracuse.

On January 3, 1945 Lorene was united in marriage to Erwin Rosenthal in Syracuse. Erwin was in the service, so the couple made their first home in California where he was stationed. In the coming years they would be blessed with three children: Eugene, Kenneth Ray, and Carol. Returning to southeast Nebraska after Erwin’s discharge, the couple lived and farmed in the Cook, Nebraska area until 1969, when they moved to a farm west of Johnson, Nebraska. In 1982 they moved off the farm and into Johnson.

Before her marriage, Lorene cooked and cleaned for families in the Syracuse area, and then moved to Lincoln, Nebraska where she cleaned at Lincoln General Hospital. After her wedding Lorene was mostly a stay-at-home mom, helping on the farm and running the household. She did work for about six months at Campbell Soup Company in Tecumseh.

A member of Grace Lutheran Church in Cook and then Zion Lutheran Church near Johnson, Lorene was active in ladies’ groups in both churches. She enjoyed handwork, and also liked to be outside gardening, mowing, or just taking her daily walk. She also looked forward to morning coffee at the Johnson Grocery.

When she could no longer live at home by herself, Lorene moved to Long’s Creek Assisted Living in Auburn, Nebraska. After an illness, she was admitted to the Nemaha County Hospital in Auburn, and it was there she passed away on Tuesday, February 2, 2016. She had reached the age of 95 years, 4 months, and 3 days. In addition to her parents, Lorene was preceded in death by her husband Erwin, 3 sisters, and 2 brothers.

Lorene is survived by her children Eugene and wife Donna Rosenthal of Tecumseh; Kenneth and wife Lois Rosenthal of Johnson; Carol and husband Dennis Schneider of Johnson; grandchildren and spouses Brian Rosenthal, Kimberly and Rick Hofmann, Amy Cassner, Staci and Jason Keel, Kristi and Scott Pelican; step-grandchildren and spouses Teresa and James Calantoc, Roxane and Tom Vondra, Ethan Petrashek; great-grandchildren Sloan, Daley, Declan, Ainsley; step-great-grandchildren Cami, Alex, Tyler, Brandy, Christopher; 4 step-great-great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law Maxine Kyle of Beatrice; Dorothy Klein of Lincoln; Peggy Rosenthal of Omaha; many other relatives and friends.

A funeral service will be Friday, February 5, 11:00 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church near Johnson. Burial will be in Grace Lutheran Cemetery near Cook. Visitation will be at the funeral home in Johnson Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.