On Tuesday, December 5, 2023, Lorna Jean “Bucky” Newman (née Gentz), 84, of Kenosha passed away peacefully in her sleep.
The second of seven children, Lorna was the oldest daughter, born in Kenosha to Kenneth and Marie Gentz of Pleasant Prairie on February 25, 1939. Growing up, Lorna attended Pleasant Prairie Grade School for first through eighth grade before moving on to Salem Central High School, graduating in 1957. Lorna was a Drum Majorette and Baton Twirler for the Salem Central marching band as well as playing alto saxophone and glockenspiel for the Zion Benton marching band. While playing with Zion Benton, she had the opportunity to play in the Orange Bowl Parade twice and at Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. Even after she stopped playing her sax, music continued to be a huge part of her life. She also played catcher for Central girl’s fast-pitch baseball team and dreamed of being able to play for the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.
On October 4, 1958, she married the love of her life, John Robert “Bob” Newman of Kenosha. They were married for nearly 58 years until he passed away in 2016. Lorna worked for Snap-on Tools in Kenosha from 1958 until she retired in February 2002, with the honorary title of “mother of engineering”.
Lorna enjoyed spending time with her family, going up north to Aunt Betty’s cottage, traveling with Bob on his union business, working with the Snap-on Rec Club, and the many Packers trips she took with Bob and then later her daughter, Dawn. During the Packers’ off-season, Lorna was also an avid Cubs fan. Whether it was the Packers or the Cubs, she always had the games on TV when she couldn’t be there in person. At home, Lorna was master of her kitchen over the holidays, even when Bob stopped deer hunting and questioned her menu choices. She loved rewatching and talking about the movies and celebrities she grew up with in her youth, especially the signed photo she had of Robert Wagner – signed “Bobby Wagner”.
Lorna was preceded in death by: her parents, Kenny and Marie; her husband, Bob; her oldest brother, Wayne; her younger sisters, Marlene and Marie Alana; her younger brother, Keith; and her grandson-in-law, Wyatt Brooks Martin.
Lorna is survived by: her three daughters – Dawn (Rick) Herrmann of Kenosha; Chris (Bill) Johnson, of Kenosha; and Lisa (Troy) Hales of Davis, Ill.; her six grandchildren – Tim Herrmann of Union Grove; Andy Herrmann of Elkhorn; Emily (Tim) Nieman of Dubuque, Iowa; Spencer (Leonora) Seitz of Kenosha; Caroline Jean (Jake Kerkhoff) Martin of Davis, Ill.; and David Newman Hales of Davis, Ill.; her three great-grandchildren – Aiden Guptail; Alaric Seitz; a great-granddaughter on the way; and two brothers – Virgil (Gail) Gentz of Paris, Wisconsin; and Noel (Barbara) Gentz of Pleasant Prairie.
Visitation will held be on Sunday, December 10, 2023 from 3:00 p.m. till 5:00 p.m. at Proko Funeral Home in Kenosha, Wisconsin as well as on Monday, December 11, 2023 from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. with funeral services immediately to follow. For the visitation, you are encouraged to wear your favorite Packers or Cubs gear in Lorna’s honor.
