Lorene Wihlemina Patent

RANDOLPH — Lorene Wihlemina Patent, 96, Randolph, died Feb. 9, 2018, at Plainview Manor, Plainview. Visitation was Monday until service time at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Randolph, under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home, Randolph. Funeral services were Feb. 12 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Randolph, with Rev. Donna L. Fonner, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Plainview, and Parish Ministry associate, Richard Bloomquist officiating. Interment was in Randolph Cemetery, Randolph. Pallbearers were Rodney Patent, Greg Kuhlman, George Nygren, John Munter, Dennis Bazata and J.D. Kuhlman. Honorary pallbearers were Josh and Joanna Rayford. Lorene was born on a farm near Winside, Feb. 3, 1922, the daughter of William and Marie “Mary” (Kruse) Wittler. She was baptized and confirmed at Theophilus Lutheran Church, near Winside. She started school at five years old at a country school across the road. The family moved to another farm when she was in the second grade. As an eighth grader, they moved to a farm near Randolph. At that time, eighth grade exams were required. Lorene learned she was the valedictorian of all of Wayne County when a reporter from the Wayne Herald visited the farm to interview her. There were about 120 eighth graders in the county in 1935. Lorene attended high school in Sholes and again graduated as valedictorian in a class of seven. After high school, she attended Wayne Teacher’s College and earned a three-year teaching certificate after one year. She began her teaching career at a country school near Carroll and taught in rural Wayne, Cedar and Pierce County schools for many years. She earned her bachelor of science degree from Wayne State College in elementary education in 1973. She was also inducted into the Kappa Delta Phi honorary educational sorority. Lorene married Alfred Patent Feb. 6, 1943, at St. John’s Lutheran Church. They had two children, Jana born 1945 and Rod born in 1949. They lived on farms south of Randolph until purchasing the farm northwest of town where they lived until 1977. While farming, Lorene taught, and Alfred built houses and baled hay in the Randolph area. In June of 1962, a cold bolt of lightning hit their house. They lived in the new basement for about a year while constructing the new house. Lorene and Alfred built a second house when they decided to move to town in 1977. Lorene remained here until moving to the Plainview Manor in 2016. Following Alfred’s passing in 1982, Lorene became an active contributor to the Randolph Community. A long-time member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, she played the organ, sang in the choir, was chairman of the quilting group, a Sunday School teacher and a member of the Martha Circle until her early 90s. She was a Camp Carol Joy Holling Quilter for over 20 years and often went to the auction to see her quilts sell. A founding member of the Randolph Senior Citizen’s Center, she was active in their quilting fundraising, called bingo, delivered meals on wheels, and played cards. She also regularly played piano for the residents of Colonial Manor. Lorene was an avid quilter and cross stitcher. She was a respected professional hand quilter completing 320 quilts at home in addition to those done at church and the senior center. She also cross stitched or embroidered numerous table clothes, quilt blocks, and wall hangings as well as over 400 small Christmas stockings. Always a learner, she completed the Norfolk Daily News or Omaha World-Herald crossword puzzles daily. Survivors include daughter, Jana Kuhlman, Norfolk; son, Rodney and Carmen Patent, Randolph; five grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Mildred C. Dunn, Randolph. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Alfred, Jan.24, 1982; great-grandson, Alex Carhart; two brothers, Ervin and Elmer Wittler; and one sister, Lucille Jenkins.