Daryl Dean Lorenz was born on Aug. 1, 1937, to Elmer and Ruth (Wulf) Lorenz on the family farm at 343rd Street West and Old Highway 54.

He went to Mt. Pleasant country school for grades 1-3 and to Cheney Grade School for grades 4-6. He finished sixth grade at North Lakewood Grade School after the family moved to Lakewood, Colo., in January 1949. He graduated from Lakewood Senior High in 1955 and continued his education at St. John’s College, Winfield, graduating with his A.A. in 1957. He returned to Colorado, and met and courted a Lutheran school teacher from Detroit, Mich. He and Marlene Strewski were united in marriage at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Detroit, on June 13, 1959. Two children were added to the family; Eden was born in 1961, and Elise was born in 1965.

Daryl worked in a variety of occupations in the early years of their marriage, including on a dairy, in a carnation greenhouse, and for Climer’s Dairy, before moving to a farm outside Grenola, Kan., in 1965. There, he started a Grade B dairy and began to build a Holstein dairy herd. They purchased land from his grandmother, Clara (Asendorf) Lorenz, near Cheney, Kan., in 1969 to start a Grade A dairy with American Milk Producers Incorporated. They retired from their dairy business in 1996, selling the herd and equipment. Daryl then worked for the Goddard School District maintenance department until retirement in 2002.

He and Marlene were active members of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Cheney. He sang in the choir and served in leadership positions, including as a Stephen’s Minister leader. They also served together planning for Saints Alive After 55 retreats, and volunteered regularly at the Wichita Branch of Orphan Grain Train. He was a huge supporter of Marlene, and daughters Eden and Elise, as they served with Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, attending both district and national conventions. He was an avid reader of Western and Native America History and rural heritage, and took great delight in Bible study, visiting with people, and playing cards with friends.

His wife, Marlene Lorenz (or “Susie” as Daryl affectionately called her), joined the saints in heaven on Jan. 26, 2019. Early Wednesday morning, August 26, 2026, at the age of 89, Daryl fell asleep in Christ. He now awaits the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.

Daryl is preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Ruth Lorenz, and sister-in-law, Joan Lorenz, and is survived by two younger siblings, David Lorenz of Jacksonville, Fla., and Barbara (John) Geuy of Buhler, Kan.; his two daughters, Eden (Brad) Keefe of Overland Park, and Elise (James Patrick) Cleary of Cheney; four grandchildren, Alli (Jason) Bauck, Adam (Cynthia) Keefe, Noah Cleary, and Cameron (Patricia) Cleary; and three great-grandsons; William Bauck, Levi Bauck, and Samuel Bauck. He eagerly awaited his fourth grandson from Cameron and Patricia, due in January 2027.

Visitation was Tuesday, Sept. 1, at Wulf-Ast Mortuary in Garden Plain, with family present from 5 to 7 p.m.

Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Cheney, with the Rev. Anthony Mansinelli officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers memorials have been set up for Orphan Grain Train, Wichita Branch, 911 W. Maple Wichita, KS 67213, and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 639 N. Lincoln, Cheney, KS 67025.