Lorraine Fahning

Lorraine Anna Fahning, age 91 formerly of Cleveland and St. Peter, died Thursday, January 21. 2010 at Oak Terrace Assisted Living in North Mankato.
Funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m., Monday, January 25, 2010 at St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church in St. Peter with Rev. Charles Degner officiating. Burial will be at Greenhill Cemetery, St. Peter. Visitation will be from 2-5 p.m., Sunday at St. Peter Funeral Home-Klein Chapel and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday.
Lorraine was born on March 7, 1918 in Cleveland Township, Le Sueur County to Jacob and Emma (Pope) Krenik. She attended and graduated from Cleveland High School in 1935. She went on to attend and graduate from Mankato Teachers College. After graduation, Lorraine taught in rural schools in the area. Lorraine was united in marriage to Carl Fahning on August 29, 1939 at the Krenik family home in rural Cleveland. She worked briefly in Le Center until she had children, and then was busy caring for her family and helping on the farm. Lorraine and Carl moved to St. Peter in 1977 after retiring from farming.
Lorraine was active at St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church where she was involved in the Ladies Aid, Sunday school, and the OWLS group. She and Carl also were very involved in southern Minnesota cerebral palsy and handicap groups and were an integral part of developing the Lutheran Home: Hope Residence for adults with developmental disabilities in Belle Plaine. Home Extension and the Cleveland Historical Society were favorite community activities. She enjoyed, gardening, sewing, playing cards, spending time at Lake Washington with family and church friends. She also enjoyed cooking and baking and Lorraine's pies and dinner rolls were some of the family's favorites.
Lorraine is survived by her children, Janean Johnston of Arlington, VA, Lyle (Jane) Fahning of Prior Lake, Linnea (George) Komaridis of Madison Lake, and Bruce (Mary) Fahning of Cleveland; 12 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; sister, Marian Babcock of St. Peter; sisters-in-law, Crystal Krenik of Le Center, and Lyla Krenik of Madison Lake; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl, in 2005; daughter, Sherry, in January, 2010; and seven siblings.
There are many special memories that her family will treasure. She was small in stature but large in heart and will be truly missed by family and all who knew her.