John Francis Lorenz, known by friends and family as Francis, passed away on Thursday October 12th, 2023, in Atchison, Kansas surrounded by his loving family. He was just 3 days shy of his 89th birthday. Francis was born on October 15, 1934, in Atchison, Kansas to Walter and Loretta Lorenz. He attended Atchison High School, graduating in 1952. He married to his lovely bride, Evelyn Ellerman, on April 21, 1957, at Nortonville Christian Church. He began service with the National Guard in 1957. He worked at Harry Frantz Wood Products as a cabinet maker from 1952-1972. He served as the Financial Secretary of the Local Carpenters’ Union. In 1972, he began working in Urban Renewal and Community Development through the City of Atchison, where he later became the City Building Official, retiring in 1997. Francis was a 50-year member of the Elks Lodge #647 where he served as a trustee and a member of the building committee. He was presented with the Elks Lifetime Achievement award in 2018. Francis was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He is survived by his beloved wife of 66 years, Evelyn, his sons Michael (Kristy) of Kansas City and Mark (Jenny) of Wichita, his grandchildren, Micha (Richard) Bazemore, Garrison (Payton) Lorenz, and Kaleigh (Tyler) Gosch, his great grandchildren, Faye, Walter and Collins and nephew Steve (Rhonda) Lorenz. He is proceeded in death by his parents, Walter and Loretta, his siblings, Vincent (May) and Barbara (Bill) Dykstra, and nephew Darrel Lorenz. Francis was a man who rarely sat still. Those who knew him can attest to the fact that he constantly had a project. Some of his finest projects include building half a dozen homes in Atchison alongside his sons, tending to his garden every year and harvesting the best home-grown tomatoes around, tinkering in his basement on various woodworking projects, managing his family farm and learning to operate heavy equipment. If you needed to know how to fix or build something, Francis was the man you called. He was always available to lend a helping hand and likely had the spare parts. We will remember Francis as a kind soul with a strong work ethic who wasn’t afraid to have a good time. He will always hold a special place in our hearts and his impact will last for generations to come. A celebration of life service will be at 2:00 PM, Saturday, October 21, 2023, at the Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home, with Rev. Brad Greene officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the Elks Building Fund or Scholarship Fund and may be sent in care of the funeral home.
