Dale Clarence Lorentz

Dale Clarence Lorentz was born on July 18, 1940 to Clarence and Ardis (Hess) Lorentz. His mother reminded us every year that it was very hot that day. He died on May 13, 2025. It was hot that day, too.
Graduating from high school at the age of 16, his report card notes that Dale was "a quiet student and a respectful listener." While in high school, Dale was in the band briefly, badly playing the French horn. He is also credited with being on the track team, even though he didn't really do that. Dale enjoyed bowling and stock car racing and won many trophies for both. He had a bit of a wild streak in him when he was younger.
Dale attended Dunwoody Institute and earned a degree in Manufacturing Engineering, which he used for many years working for Van Dale (later West Tech) and Cam (later Pengo) Manufacturing.
Dale was drafted into the United States Army in 1963 and served as an Army medic at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri where he was awarded an Army Good Conduct Medal.
Dale married Agnes (Tunnie) Galvin in 1965 at St. Mary's Church in Waverly, MN, and their marriage was blessed with twelve children. They raised their children on a hobby farm in Woodland Township, where they had cattle, pigs, chickens, occasionally turkeys, ducks, and geese, and one really mean goat. Dale enjoyed working on the farm, planting gardens, picking tomatoes, and puttering around on various projects. He firmly believed that you could always do a better job than you had done, and so he would frequently tell his children that they "had a good start." He loved going to auctions to find treasures, and he also loved a good bag sale on the last day of a garage sale.
Commitment to his community meant that Dale was actively involved in many groups, including the Lions Club, where he was a Charter Member and served as President and Gambling Manager; the Knights of Columbus, where he served as Grand Knight and Financial Secretary; the Boy Scouts; the Waverly Boosters; the American Legion; and the Special Olympics. He enjoyed working at the food stand and beer stands for Waverly Days and the church bazaar, parking cars for Winstock, and marching in the Memorial Day parade. He was honored by the Minneapolis Aquatennial for his volunteer work and commitment to the community. An active member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, he served on the Parish Council, the Board of Education, the Adult Education Committee, and was a lector, song leader, Eucharistic minister, Eucharistic Adorer, rosary leader, youth group leader, and member of the men's choir. He was a prolific blood donor who donated over thirteen gallons of blood.
He was a very busy man, but his number one priority was his family. No matter how busy he was with the farm, he always made time to attend his children's school and sports events. He was a devoted father, and he loved being a grandfather to his 16 (soon to be 17) grandchildren.
Dale is preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Ardis Lorentz, his father- and mother- in-law, Leonard and Rose (Lillian) Galvin, his brothers, David and Eugene, and his sister Mary Jane, as well as brothers- and sisters-in-law Richard Barberg, John Tapio, Mary (Marty) Coyne, Joan (Francis) Munsterteiger, James Galvin, John (Susan) Galvin, Sr. Margaret Galvin, Helen Flynn, and Anne Lund.
He is survived by his loving wife of almost 60 years, Agnes, and his twelve children: Julie (Mark) Stegner, Daniel (Dolores), Jonathan, David (Charise), Joan (Steven) Nelson, James (Carol), Jill (Eric) Gustafson, Joel (Jennifer), Debra (Andrew) O'Brien, Dennis, Diana (Daniel) Lucas, and Doreen. Also survived by his grandchildren: Catherine, Benjamin, Matthew, Emmerson and Ellison Lorentz, Adyson DiNatale, Jimmy Doll, Sebastian Nelson, Anna and Emily Rose, Eva and Avery Gustafson, Aiden Weege, Deacon O'Brien, and Josiah and Gideon Lucas. Dale is further survived by his brothers and sisters, Rose Barberg, Albert (Marlene) Lorentz, Eva (Royal) Moulton, Joyce (Herb) Smith, Sue Tapio, Shirley (Marty) Javurek, Trudy (Kelly) Clausen, Leo Lorentz, and Michael (Cher) Lorentz, sisters-in-law Jean Lorentz and Terry Lorentz, and brother-in-law Richard Lund. He is also survived by his godchildren, Mike, Jeff, and Christopher Lorentz, Todd Munsterteiger, Katie Coyne, Mary Jo Flynn, and Patty Levin, as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A visitation will be held on Sunday, May 18th from 4-7 P.M. AT THE CHURCH. A Knights of Columbus rosary will be recited at 6:30 P.M. Further visitation will be held on Monday morning, May 19th one hour prior to Mass.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Dale Lorentz will be held on Monday morning, May 19th at 11:00 A.M. at St. Mary Catholic Church in Waverly. Father Lawrence Blake will be the Celebrant. Interment with military rites will follow at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery.
Casket Bearers will be Jeffrey Lorentz, Todd Munsterteiger, Benjamin Lorentz, Matthew Lorentz, Sebastian Nelson, Aiden Weege, Deacon O'Brien and Nickolas Tapio.