Barbara Ann Lorenz passed away, surrounded by her children in the early hours of Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, during her recovery from pancreatic cancer. Barbara was a model of steadfast loyalty, grace, and care for others as a daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, classmate and friend.
Barb was born Nov. 22, 1945, in Geneva, to Ann and Louis Budler of Fairmont. Barb attended Fairmont Public Schools and then went on to graduate from St. Elizabeth’s School of Nursing in 1967. Her career as a registered nurse included working for Crete Memorial Hospital, Farmland Foods/Smithfield (25 years), and as a school nurse for rural districts and St. James Catholic School.
As an active member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, she took on responsibility for many different projects for the Altar Society, went to daily mass and led the Rosary, the annual Fall Dinner and many more.
As a farm wife and mother, she was the chief operating officer of the home who was responsible for a huge garden, making meals for all the family and farm help, and making sure everyone was where they needed to be. She was also the farm manager, keeping all the books for the farm for many years. She was the keeper of family traditions, whether it was decorating fun birthday cakes for her children, sewing matching outfits for her and her daughters, and making sure we took part in family reunions and gatherings. Our mom was the heartbeat of our family.
Barb married William Joseph Lorenz on Feb. 1, 1969, and enjoyed 56 years of celebrations. Together, they raised five children, and she was the proud grandmother to 12 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. It was always important to her that we all spend time together. The date didn’t matter in terms of holidays but that we gathered.
Barb loved to travel and took trips with Bill and also with friends. Barb had traveled to all 50 states and to several places in Europe, including the Czech Republic, Ireland, Spain and Italy, the Holy Land, Panama Canal, Venezuela, South Africa, Mexico, and Costa Rica. After Bill passed on June 10, she had started thinking about a bucket list for where she wanted to go next.
Barb loved keeping up with her grandchildren’s games and activities and they attended as many as they were able, often traveling out of state to take part. Barb and Bill loved to dance and often would follow Angie Kriz and the Polka Tunes to various locations across the area.
In mom’s final years, she enjoyed going to daily mass, saying the rosary, and having coffee with a wonderful group of friends, sharing life with each other. She also loved following Nebraska volleyball and attended frequently. In her time at home, mom loved reading, word games and doing puzzles. There was seldom a time when she didn’t have a puzzle in progress.
Barb is preceded in death by her husband, Bill Lorenz in June 2025; son, Christopher Lorenz; parents, Ann and Louis Budler; and siblings, Larry Budler and Carolyn O’Brien.
Barb is survived by her children, Brian (Debbie) of Crete, Jill (Russ) Goodrich of Amarillo, Texas, Teresa (Jim) Wissenburg of Crete, and Mark (Bobbi) of Broken Bow. Grandchildren include Taylor (Dalton) Steelman and Austin Lorenz; Katie (Logan) Newman, Ryan, Grant, and Clay Goodrich; Amber, Autumn, Jay, Christopher, and Hunter Wissenburg; and Isaak Lorenz; and brothers, Jim Budler (Doni) of Longmont, Colorado, and John Budler (Linda) of York. Other survivors include all the extended Budler and Lorenz families, including Bill’s siblings and their spouses, many loving nieces, nephews, cousins and other wonderful family members, friends and neighbors.
Visitation will be Sunday, Oct. 5. from 4-7 p.m. with the Rosary at 6:30 p.m. at the Kuncl Funeral Home in Crete. Mass of Christian Burial will be at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Monday, Oct. 6, at 10 a.m. officiated by Fr. Bernard Lorenz and Fr. Christopher Stoley. Burial will be at Sacred Heart Cemetery following the mass. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Sacred Heart Catholic Church or to the family for later designation.
Arrangements by to Kuncl Funeral Home in Crete.
