Obituary of Laurena Louise Klotz

IN LOVING MEMORY OF LAURENA L. KLOTZ Laurena Louise Klotz, daughter of August and Katherine (Braun) Wegener, was born February 21, 1915, in Norton, Kansas, and passed away at the Lexington Park Home in Topeka, Kansas, on December 10, 2011, at the age of 96. On March 3, 1915, in the home of her parents, she was given new life through Holy Baptism. She received her early education through Immanuel Lutheran Church of Norton and continued her education at St. John's Lutheran Church in Culbertson, Nebraska, where her oldest brother, Arthur, instructed and confirmed her in her Christian faith. At the age of 17, she taught school at the Immanuel Lutheran school for two years. In 1969, she received her GED through Norton County High School. Laurena was married to Martin Klotz on October 20, 1937, in her parent's home. Laurena and Martin enjoyed a long marriage of 53 years and were blessed with two children, Janice and Paul. Martin passed away in 1990. She spent the last year enjoying the company of her son, Paul, and other new friendships as she resided in Topeka, Kansas. Laurena was a member of the Redeemer Lutheran Church. She worked hard as a wife to a northwestern Kansas farmer but still found time to spend with her children, take care of her aging parents, and later worked and volunteered her time at various places around Norton County. She delighted in being active in church and showed a deep love for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Laurena is survived by her son, Paul Klotz, Topeka; her son-in-law, Robert Hanson, Norton; five grandchildren, Susan, and husband, Greg Shilling, Westphalia, Kansas; Yvonne, and husband, Mark Beer, Falls Church, Virginia; Stephen Hanson, Overland Park, Kansas; Andrew, and wife, Renee Klotz, and Charles Klotz, all of Durango, Colorado; six great-grandchildren, Matthew and Bethany Beer, Camille and Cameron Shilling, Lucy and Conrad Klotz; two sisters-in-law, Lena Hopfer and Hilda Friebus, both of Washington State; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends around the United States. Laurena was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her daughter, Janice Hanson, and all her brothers and sisters. A memorial has been established to the Redeemer Lutheran Church .