A Celebration of Life for James “Jim” Lorenz, 81, of Foley, Ala., formerly of Davenport and Long Grove, will be held at the Blue Grass Community Center, 232 E. Orphed St., on Saturday, May 20, starting at 1 p.m. All who knew Jim are invited.
He died July 23, 2022, in Foley.
Jim was born Aug. 20, 1940, in Davenport, to Herbert and Olga Lorenz.
He graduated from Davenport High School in 1958, and at one time, represented the Blue Devils as Impy, their mascot.
On Nov. 3, 1962, Jim married his high school sweetheart, Margaret Trauffer, in Davenport.
In 1964, Jim began his lengthy career working for Caterpillar. During that time, Jim had the opportunity to touch many lives, as he worked in a variety of plants, including Mt. Joy, Mossville, Ill., and Greenville, S.C.
In 1970, Jim and Margaret made their dream of owning some land a reality and built Lorenz’s Rocking Horse Hill on 10 acres north of Long Grove. Jim spent many years as a pitcher for a slow-pitch softball team and loved having the team over to swim in the “cement pond” in the backyard and drink beer after tournaments. Though he loved Iowa – and the Hawkeyes – he hated the cold winters and after retiring from Caterpillar in 1998 moved to Foley, and had plenty of time to pursue his passions of golfing, fishing and playing cards. Jim co-founded “The Spastics” golf group at Glen Lakes and 25 years later, they’re still going strong. He enjoyed many years of golfing, dining and winning money playing cards from them. Jim loved to entertain, and you could always count on him to organize a get-together with friends. Even when Jim wasn’t golfing with the group, he would make sure that nobody went thirsty passing his home on the 4th hole at Glen Lakes, placing a cooler with beer by the palm tree. During retirement, Jim combined his Macgyver-like building/fixing skills and helping people. He began volunteering at the Baldwin County Heritage Museum and worked on many projects that remain there, including the renovation of a home and schoolhouse from yesteryear.
He leaves behind his wife, Margaret, of 59 years; sons Randy (Terri), Dwayne (Joyce), and daughter Celeste (Angelo) Ortega; his five grandchildren, Arron Lorenz, Ashley (Eric) Northouse, Austin Lorenz and fiancée Madlen, Nicholas Lorenz and special friend Mayli, and Courtney Lorenz; great-grandson Hudson; his sister, Charlotte (Ron) Jasper; and sister-in-law Bernie Lorenz; his many loving nieces and nephews; The Spastics; and the many lives he touched.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents and brother, William (Bill) Lorenz.
Memorials may be made to the Baldwin County Heritage Museum at 25521 U.S. 98, Elberta, AL.
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