Delbert Lorenson, 81, of 10779 Q.5 Lane, Rapid River, passed away Friday morning, July 31, 2009, at D. J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette.
Delbert was born November 12, 1927, in Escanaba, the son of Arthur and Mabel (Johnson) Lorenson. He was raised in Stonington. At age 17 Delbert enlisted in the navy. After basic training at Great Lakes Naval Station, he was shipped out to the Pacific war zone where he boarded the Battleship Wisconsin. During his war time service, he earned two battle stars: one for the Liberation of the Philippines, and the other for the Battle of Okinawa. Following the war he remained on the Wisconsin for a worldwide public relations tour to sixty different ports. After the ship was decommissioned, he served his remaining navy time aboard the heavy cruiser USS Rochester, until he was honorably discharged. He then sailed for a time on Great Lakes ore carriers.
On February 11, 1950, Delbert married the former Constance Jacks of Detroit. The ceremony took place at Trinity Lutheran Church, Stonington. At that time he was employed by the Hansen and Jensen Oil Company in Escanaba. For many years the couple made their home in Gladstone, where they raised three children: Rick, Pam, and Tom. People who talked with Delbert knew that before long he would start talking with satisfaction about his children and, later, his grandchildren.
Throughout his life, Delbert was involved in many volunteer organizations, including Past Commander of VFW Post 2998 Escanaba. He also served for several years as Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 466 Gladstone, during which time he had the privilege of presenting the Eagle Scout rank to 39 local boys. One year his troop achieved a national record for having the greatest number of Eagle Scouts awarded at one time, a record which stood for many years. Delbert received recognition for his excellence in scouting, including being named Michigan Scoutmaster of the Year in 1972; the District Award of Merit; the Order of the Axe; and the national award for outstanding scouting leadership, the “Silver Beaver”. He was very proud of the young men he served and led in scouting.
He was a member of First Lutheran Church of Gladstone, where he served as an usher and council member. He also enjoyed attending the men’s Bible study.
In 1983 he retired from Clairmont Trucking Company. In his retirement years, he designed and built a line of beautiful oak furniture, some of which he donated to numerous local churches and the Gladstone School and Public Library.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother. Survivors include his wife, Connie; two sons, Rick (Pam) Lorenson of New Jersey, and Tom (Shelly Young) Lorenson of Oshkosh, WI; one daughter, Pam (Ray) Chouinard of Gladstone; five grandsons, Israel (Heidi) Chouinard of Escanaba, Abel (Alison) Chouinard of Gladstone, and Jeremy (Rachel Pastiva) Chouinard of Ann Arbor, Dellin Lorenson of Madison, Isaac Lorenson of Oshkosh; two granddaughters, Angela (Jason Yamashita) Chouinard of Elk Grove, IL, and Bethany (Brian) Broeders of Neenah, WI; great-grandsons Caleb and Jacob Chouinard and Ben Broeders; one brother, Myron, of Stonington; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Delbert’s family will receive friends on Sunday from 3:00-6:00 P. M. at the Skradski Funeral Home in Gladstone, with Military Rites at 6:00 P. M. conducted by American Legion Post 301 Rapid River.
Funeral services celebrating his life will be held on Monday, 11:00 A. M. in First Lutheran Church in Gladstone, with the Reverends Rick Lorenson and Jonathan Schmidt officiating. Burial will be in Lakewood Cemetery in Stonington.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to one of the following: BSA Troop 466 Gladstone; First Lutheran Church Memorial Fund; or The Friends of the Gladstone Library.
