On January 15, Austin's Grandpa Jim Lorenzen passed away after a long battle with Alzheimer's. He was an amazing man of faith with a distinguished career as a teacher, guidance counselor, coach and athletic director. He began his career in Janesville, Iowa where he started the football program. Next he taught and coached at North Fayette in West Union. He then spent 32 years serving his hometown school in LeMars, Iowa, during which time he was selected as Iowa Athletic Director of the Year (1986) and inducted into the Iowa High School Athletic Directors Hall of Fame (1996).
Jim was a lifelong football fan from his playing days at LeMars Community High School, Westmar College and the Air Force to coaching to attending high school football games coached by his son (Austin's Uncle Toby Lorenzen @ CL-GLR). Along the way he touched many players', students' and other people's lives. It was always fun to visit him. He will be greatly missed by many, but we celebrate the wholeness and happiness he is now experiencing with Jesus in heaven!
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| Thanksgiving 2007 with Austin's siblings & kids |
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| Four generations of Lorenzen men--Labor Day 2009 |
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| Four generations of Lorenzen men--Memorial Day 2012 |
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| Jim with six of his eight great-grandchildren--Memorial Day 2012 |
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| Picture display--The large group photo is all the grandchildren + two great-grandchildren some time in 2004-2005. The football field in LeMars is named after him. |
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| More picture display |
The kids did really well at the visitation and funeral thanks to backpacks of activities and a trip to McDonald's (thus Emily proudly displaying her latest Happy Meal Toy). There was a prayer service during the visitation with eulogies given by two former football players. It was a very nice funeral service with touching eulogies by Austin's dad and aunt. Jim was cremated, and his ashes were buried at Memorial Cemetery in LeMars, Iowa.
On January 15, Austin's Grandpa Jim Lorenzen passed away after a long battle with Alzheimer's. He was an amazing man of faith with a distinguished career as a teacher, guidance counselor, coach and athletic director. He began his career in Janesville, Iowa where he started the football program. Next he taught and coached at North Fayette in West Union. He then spent 32 years serving his hometown school in LeMars, Iowa, during which time he was selected as Iowa Athletic Director of the Year (1986) and inducted into the Iowa High School Athletic Directors Hall of Fame (1996). 
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