Obituary | Loa Elaine Lorentzen of Apple Valley, Minnesota | White Funeral Homes

Loa Elaine Lorentzen, 89, passed away peacefully on Monday December 14th in her home surrounded by family. Loa was born on January 23, 1931 in Lake City to Fritz and Emma Hoops. She attended Oak Center grade school and graduated from Lincoln High School in Lake City. In October 1950 she married Dorance Gerken and they farmed together near Zumbro Falls.

Loa was baptized as an infant in the home of her parents and continued her Christian path through adult baptism by immersion in July 2004.  

For many years Loa worked as a medical secretary at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. After retiring from Mayo she worked for Macy’s department store until her 80th birthday. When the workaday world was finished Loa became a great gardening buddy and cheerleader for family projects. She was a fun loving and enthusiastic partner for any adventure and had plenty of love to spread around to the many special people that were part of her life. 

In her spare time Loa enjoyed gardening, cooking, reading, ballroom dancing and travel. Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family and we all loved being with Mom. 

Loa is survived by her four children; Diane (Dan) Mueller of Red Wing, Cheryl Nelson (Jon Bentley) of Bloomington, Jim (Laurie) Gerken of Zumbro Falls and Tami (Don) Helt of Seattle Washington; six grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren, beloved siblings Faye Busch and Ronald Hoops of Lake City and many special nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Una Schlee and Ila Jacob, sister-in-law Margie Hoops and nephew Michael Hoops.

A graveside memorial service will be held in June 2021

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Fisher Center for Alzheimers Research Foundation, FDR Station, PO Box 220 New York, NY 10150 

or Union Gospel Mission, 77 Ninth Street East, St. Paul, MN 55101

White Funeral Home – Apple Valley

952-432-2001