Lorena R. Ronnebaum, 81, of Seneca, KS, died early Sunday morning, April 18, 2010 at Life Care Center in Seneca.

Lorena was born on April 13, 1929, to Frank and Matilda Haug Mohrman on a farm on the east edge of St. Benedict, KS. She attended St. Mary’s Grade School and obtained her GED later in her life. As a young girl she babysat for new mothers and worked for Bergman’s General Store in St. Benedict.

On June 8, 1948, she married Werner Ronnebaum at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Benedict. As newlyweds the couple moved to the Ronnebaum family farm north of Seneca, where they raised their 13 children. Lorena worked as a homemaker and continued to baby-sit until her children entered school. She then worked at the Friendly Diner, CR Industries, Mathewson Liquor Store/Koerprich Liquor Store and Country View Estates.

She was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, St. Ann’s Altar Society (past officer), volunteered for the Mission Center, a member of NVCH Guild and Nemaha County Historical Society, all in Seneca. She taught CCD classes and served as a Eucharistic minister at Mass as well as for those parishioners who were homebound, hospitalized, and in nursing homes. Lorena was very active as a 4-H Club Leader and was a Project Leader for several disciplines, touching the lives of many children over numerous years in helping them with their various projects. Her homemaking skills were par excellence! She was an expert seamstress, often combining patterns or creating them herself from scratch. She enjoyed dancing (especially square dancing), sewing, gardening, crocheting, reading and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

She is survived by Werner, her husband of 61 years, of Seneca; her children, Donna (Tim) Sasser, Silver Spring, MD; Dan Ronnebaum, Seneca; Steve (Patricia) Ronnebaum, Stanton, NE; Jean (Scott) Covey, Kansas City, MO; David (Sherry) Ronnebaum, Axtell; Bill (Becky) Ronnebaum, Seneca; Kathy (John) Welch, Topeka; Mary (Mike) Sack, Seneca; Joan (Lawrence) Davis, DeSoto, KS; John (Noel) Ronnebaum, Augusta, KS; Laurie (Joe) Fangman, Cosby, MO; and Cheri (Bob) Deters, Seneca; her brother, Leo Mohrman, St. Benedict; 28 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; an infant son, Michael; and her sister, Elsie Scott.

Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM Thursday, April 22, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 AM Friday at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Memorials may be given in Lorena’s memory for Sts. Peter & Paul School, and sent in care of the family.