Ann Marie Lorentz
December 19, 1920 – June 17, 2016
Our family lost its most beloved member on June 17, 2016, when Ann Marie Lorentz peacefully took her last breath, surrounded by her two daughters and two sons. Ann’s long, phenomenal life journey lasted 95 1/2 years.
She was born in Sioux City, Iowa, on Dec. 19, 1920. She was the eldest of the three children of Conrad and Lena Westerberg, who emigrated from Scandinavia early in the 20th Century and married just prior to his departure in 1918 for World War I’s “western front.” The family moved to Mukilteo and Everett, Washington in 1926.
Ann graduated from Everett High School in 1939. That summer she met a talented young man named Paul Lorentz at the Lake Sammamish Bible Camp (now SAMBICA) and during the next year they decided to marry. That decision took on greater urgency once Paul entered the Army in 1941, and while on leave they married on Aug. 31, 1941. The marriage lasted just short of 70 years, until Paul’s death in 2011. During those incredible years they had four children, Donald, Sharon, Sandra and Douglas followed by eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Ann was a homemaker par excellence. While Paul was busy as a World War II soldier and airman, a University of Washington student who worked full time while attending on the G.I. Bill, minister, teacher, school administrator, coach, musician and athlete, Ann was the ideal spouse, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was always active and supportive of her children, participating in their school activities and sporting events while assisting her husband as a minister’s wife and partner, producing incredible meals, and showing support and love to all the family. An outstanding chef, her recipes remain among our family’s most prized possessions.
She was also involved in her husband’s career as a teacher and administrator with Bothell, Lincoln, Ingraham and Nathan Hale high schools. Starting in 1959, she and Paul helped establish the Seattle-Kobe (Japan) Public Schools’ Teacher and Student Exchange Programs, a joint effort that lasted 40 years and had a positive affect on so many lives. Paul and Ann were the exchange teachers to Kobe in 1965-66; they brought all four of their children to Japan to begin a relationship with that country that has been closely maintained during the past 50 years. In 2005, the Japan America Society of Washington State awarded Paul and Ann, along with the program’s other exchange teachers, the Ambassador Thomas Foley Award, which honors those in this state who significantly enhanced the relationship between Washington State and Japan.
Ann and Paul maintained residences on Queen Anne (Seattle) as well on Hood Canal, near Poulsbo. During their many years together they particularly enjoyed family gatherings, as their legacy grew to include new generations and friends. They loved visiting friends and relatives throughout the U.S., Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, and in Europe, particularly Norway and Sweden. Reunions with friends from the World War II years, as well as their long lasting friends in the Seattle area, were especially memorable.
Paul’s passing in 2011 left a great void in Ann’s life, but as a strong Christian she took comfort that she would be with him again. She loved and appreciated the support received from her family and the wonderful caregivers and staff at Patriots Glen Retirement facility in Bellevue, Washington.
Ann was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Lorentz; her parents Conrad and Lena Westerberg; brother Dr. Milton Westerberg; and sister Bernice Martin. She is survived by children Donald and Li-ching (Linda) Lorentz of Poulsbo, Sharon Smith of Seattle, Sandra and Donald Marrs of Bellevue, and Douglas and Sukanya Lorentz of Tokyo and Redmond; grandchildren Kristin and Kyle Klassert of Poulsbo, Brynya and Phil Johnson of Castor Valley, California, Lauren and Aaron Helmers of Bellevue, Galen and Jeff Young of San Mateo, California, Claire Smith of Seattle, Alissa Lorentz of Basel, Switzerland, Anna Lorentz of Bangkok, Thailand, and Nathan Lorentz of San Diego, California; her great-grandchildren Priya and Tatum Johnson, Annika Klassert, Henry Young, and Tyler
and Libby Helmers.
A celebration of Ann Marie’s life will be at 1 p.m. Oct. 1 at Highland Community Center, 14224 Bel-Red Road, Bellevue. The family requests that instead of flowers, contributions in her memory be made to the Seattle Humane Society at 13212 SE Eastgate Way, Bellevue, WA 98005.
