Lorene D. Friend, 95, of Keller Texas, formerly from Lawrence, Nebraska, died on Nov. 24, 2023, at Baylor Scott and White Medical Center in Grapevine, Texas. Lorene was born to John and Bertha (Ostdiek) Lemke, on Election Day Nov. 6, 1928, at home in Mt. Clare in Nuckolls County. She attended St Stephens School and later graduated from Lawrence Public High School in 1946. On Sept. 26, 1950, she married her high school sweetheart and the love of her life, Robert (Bob) Friend, at St. Stephens Church in Nuckolls County. To this union they had six children.
As a married couple, they owned and were grocers of Friend’s IGA in Lawrence until they retired in 1985. They also owned and operated the Village Inn Café for a short time.
Lorene was an active member of the Lawrence community and Sacred Heart Church in Lawrence. She served on the boards of the Altar Society, Home and School, the Lawrence Country Club and worked with her husband with the Chamber of Commerce for many community events. She and Bob were on the first board for the Lawrence High School Alumni Association.
Just after their 40th wedding anniversary, Bob died on Dec. 21, 1990.
Lorene moved to Hastings in 1991. She worked at the Hastings Regional Center as a librarian, a mental health technician and finally as an operator. She also worked at Allen’s, and Gary Michael Clothiers as a tailor.
She moved to Texas in 2002. She lived in Lewisville and later moved to Keller.
Lorene’s passion was her family. She liked to play cards and enjoyed playing war and pitch with her family. She also belonged to several bridge clubs in Lawrence and Hastings.
She also liked to sew. She learned to sew during the Depression. She made her own patterns and doll clothes. She was known to make her children’s clothes, curtains and many projects for the clergy in Lawrence. Later her passion turned to quilting. She made hundreds of quilting projects that included a personal quilt for each grandchild upon their high school graduation. Each great-grandchild received a quilted baby blanket from their GG. She also enjoyed numerous other sewing projects that she enjoyed sharing with others.
Survivors include four sons and two daughters, Fred (Lisa) Friend of Keller, Texas, Judy (Brad) Timberlake of Southlake, Texas, Ken (Kelly) Friend) Woodstock, Illinois, Bob (Denise) Friend, Coppell, Texas, Linda Kimminau of Gretna, Nebraska, Tim (Lori) Friend, Keller, Texas.
Others left to cherish her memory include her grandchildren, Matt (Rachel) Friend, Hayley (Chris) Bates, Andrew (Kristin) Haggard, Casey Friend, Britnee (Josh) Friend, Tyler (Kelli) Friend, Rachael (Alec) Blalock Audrey Friend, Sara (Andrew) O’Connor, Nicole (John) Bring, Krystle (Jake) Fuller, Oliver Taylor and Lily Taylor.
Her great-grandchildren loved their GG and are so lucky to have so many memories. Madelyn and Avery Friend, Elizabeth Haggard, Jayden and Peyton Mills, Kennedy Friend, Clara and Wyatt Blalock, Ava Jarecke, Jaxon, Jameson and Walker O’Connor, Evelyn and Vale Bring, Ty and Libby Fuller.
Lorene is also survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Jack and Arlene Lemke, and her sister-in-law, Mildred Lemke.
Lorene was preceded in death by her husband, Bob; her parents, John and Bertha Lemke; son-in-law, Darrel Kimminau; brothers, Vernon (Dorothy) Lemke, Arnold Lemke; sister, Norma (Joe) Skalka; parents-in-law, Glen and Clara Friend; sisters-in-law, Kay (Paul) Anderson) and Jeanne (DeWayne) Gentert.
A celebration of Lorene’s life will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, Dec. 1 at Keller’s Old Town Funeral Home in Keller, Texas.
A Mass and burial with be held in Lawrence at a later date. An updated announcement will be made.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Lorene’s name to the restoration of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Lawrence, Nebraska.
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