Andrew E. “Andy” Lorentz age 82 of Salem, WI died at his home surrounded by family August 2, 2023, following a two year battle with cancer. He was born in Akron, Ohio on December 25, 1940, the elder of the late Merton and Twyla (Heimbaugh) Lorentz’s two sons. He grew up in Circleville, Ohio where his parents owned and operated the Lorentz Gulf Service Station and Motel, and he graduated from Circleville High School. On December 11, 1972 in Waukegan, IL he was united in marriage to Kim Mayo. He worked for many years for American Motors in Kenosha, WI, and later for the Southern Wisconsin Center in Union Grove, WI.
Andy was a handyman by trade, able to fix just about anything. He had a strong sense of community, exemplified by his service with the Salem Volunteer Fire Department in the 1980s, the time he spent living and working at Happy Acres Kampground (Bristol, WI) in the 1990s and 2000s, and his more recent tenure as the president of the Royal Palms HOA in Alamo, Texas. In 1989, Andy started volunteering as a set builder for the Westosha Central High School drama department, work he would continue to do for 25 years, becoming a friend, teacher, mentor, and second dad to hundreds of students.
He had a quiet manner, a famously wry smile, an irreligious sense of the sacred, and a knack for making friends out of strangers with his folksy wisdom and very “dad” jokes. He wore plaid shirts and suspenders and was never without his trusty tape measure. He loved spending time outdoors and returning home to Circleville to visit with friends (and to pick up some maple fudge from Wittich’s) in the summer. He loved music: Boxcar Willie, Duane Eddy and Elvis; the Kingston Trio and Simon & Garfunkel; Willie Nelson and Phantom of the Opera; Gilbert & Sullivan, and classical works like Grofe’s Grand Canyon Suite and Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, which he would play at such house-shaking volumes that his kids had tell him to turn his music down.
Most of all, Andy enjoyed spending time with his boisterous and joyous family, whether attending school plays, baseball games, marching band competitions, karaoke nights, or the annual “Lorentzapalooza” family gatherings. He leaves a legacy of music, laughter, gratitude, and love.
Andy is survived by his wife Kim; his brother Michael (Christine) Lorentz; his children Natalie Adelmund, Emily Lorentz (Mary Anderson), Melodie Lorentz, Paul Lorentz (James Candler), Jill (Kevin) Leuzinger, Michael Lorentz (Suzie Zwiebel), Sarah (David) Turek and Andrew Lorentz (Meagan Sullivan); his grandchildren Travis (Amber), Sandra and Tara Adelmund, Roberta and Daniel Schwulst, Ryan Paniagua, Ashley Anderson, Brittney Anglemyer, Dillon Lorentz, Stewart and Leon Candler, Logan, Carson and Lindsay Leuzinger, Lu Kuchar, Cody Zwiebel, Addison and Noel Turek, Isabelle and Gracie Lorentz, Carter and Addison Sullivan; and his great grandchildren Zoey Sarkisian, Kermit Gillis, Aubrey Miley, Jamari Torres, Jaden Teniente and Harmony Lorentz; his nieces Jennifer (Mike) Fuscone and Karen Lorentz, nephew Benjamin (Lindsey) Lorentz, and grandnieces Rebecca, Abby, and Brooklyn Fuscone, Leah Lorentz, and Elliana Lorentz.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday August 12, 2023 at 1:00PM at the Haase-Lockwood & Associates Funeral Home and Crematory 620 Legion Dr. Twin Lakes, WI. Visitation will be held from 11:00AM until the time of services at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Westosha Central High School Theater Department in his name via GoFundMe https://gofund.me/37e0a217 or via check payable to Paul Lorentz (memo Andy Lorentz WCHS) sent to 1513 Wild Iris St., Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, 53590.
Online condolences Haaselockwoodfhs.com. The Haase-Lockwood & Associates Funeral Home and Crematory of Twin Lakes, WI is honored to serve the Lorentz family.
