Robert “Bob” H. Lorenz, 95, of Fremont, OH passed away peacefully at home, with his family by his side, on Tuesday, November 19, 2019. He was born on September 29, 1924 in Fremont, the son of Robert C. and Hallie (Mutchler) Lorenz. He was a 1944 graduate of Fremont Ross High School and attended the Ringling School of Art in Sarasota, Florida and the Toledo Museum of Art in Toledo, OH.
Bob married Beatrice “Bea” A. Cronin on March 31, 1948 at St. Ann Church in Fremont and she survives. Bob spent fifteen years in the commercial art field and was employed as art director with an advertising sign company. He then ventured into free-lance artwork, specializing in railroads and Americana. Bob played a major role in the design of five steam-powered trains and was a staff artist for the American Freedom Train. Four of his original oil paintings hang in the Amtrak offices in Washington, D.C. His artwork was featured in the March 1985 article of People Magazine and most recently in the Nickel Plate Road Magazine in the fall of 2019.
Bob was a member of St. Ann Catholic Church. He was an artist, train and railroad enthusiast and was a member of many railroad clubs. He built models for museums and was an Ohio State Buckeyes fan. Bob loved music and was a drummer.
Bob is survived by his loving wife of seventy-one years, Beatrice “Bea” A. Lorenz, Fremont, OH; children, Linda (Gerald) Gonya, Fremont, OH, Luann (Joe) Shawberry, Republic, OH and Laura (Richard) Eberly, Fremont, OH; grandchildren, Melissa (Jason) Voorhees, Aaron (Stephanie) Gonya, Angela Gonya, Alyse (Cory) Snider, John T. Nause and Leslie (Matthew) Sanctis; great grandchildren, Easton and Jensen Voorhees, Aleah, Annaliese, Ian and Michael Gonya, Olivia Sanctis, Evany and Maelynn Snider.
He was preceded in death by his parents and infant brother, John Lorenz.
Visitation: Thursday from 2-4 pm and 6 – 8 pm at Wonderly Horvath Hanes Funeral Home and Crematory, 425 E. State St, Fremont, OH.
Mass of Christian Burial: Friday, November 22, 2019, 10:00 am at St. Ann Catholic Church, 1021 W. State St, Fremont, OH.
Burial: St. Joseph Cemetery
Memorials: St. Ann Catholic Church or Hospice of ProMedica Memorial Hospital
Online Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.whhfh.com
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Arlene Lenhart
My sympathy to Bob’s family. He was in a RR club with my dad, Louis Burkett and i remember him coming to the house for meetings and sharing ideas about their train layouts . A very nice and very talented gentleman. Thoughts and prayers to the family.
Annie Weigman Cassidy
Linda,
I am so sorry to read about your dad’s passing. You and your family are in my prayers.
Annie Weigman Cassidy
Marilyn Willer
Dear Bea and family,
My sincere condolences on the passing of Bob. I am so fortunate I was able to get to know Bea and Bob. An amazing couple. Bob, such a nice man and a very talented artist. His interest in trains was special. Good memories of his train set-up. Good memories of Bob.
Marilyn Wheeler Willer
Kathy and Ron Stout
Our sincerest sympathies to you and your family.
Nancy Sattler
Bea,
I am so sorry to hear of Bob’s passing. I have enjoyed his artwork hanging on my wall of Santa’s train, one of the many pieces of art that he donated to Plant ‘N Bloom. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.
Nancy Sattler
Bill and Mary Hershey
Linda, so sorry to hear about your father’s passing. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
SHIRLEY RATZMANN
So sorry for your loss Bea and Family. I will cherish the painting of the Marblehead Lighthouse that you gave to me. He was such a talented man.
Shirley Ratzmann
Jo and Mike Weyer
Linda and Gerry
I’m so sorry to hear of your dad’s passing. I know how important your dad was to you, and your family. What a great artist we have lost. So glad we have some of his work. Prayers for all of you.
Carol Pope
Bea
So sorry to hear about Bob. The signed and dated prints of the Fostoria railroad are so special to me. He had so many nice stories to tell
Liz Richardson
I am so sad to hear about Bob’s crossing over. I know he will be deeply and profoundly missed. I grew up with him being my best friend Laura’s Dad and he was a wonderful, talented and funny man. Bea and Bob were an amazing couple. I send love to my Lorenz family from my family.❤❤
Susan Smith
He had a smile that lit up a room, and the strength and support of his family were unparalleled. So grateful to have met this man, and so saddened by his passing.
Margie Bixler-Foster
Bob Lorenz was such a kind, gentle man. I always enjoyed the times I spent with him and Bea. Their family has been so blessed to have had him in their lives all these years! God bless Bob and his family and friends!
Mark J. Camp
Bea,
I will always have fond memories of Bob and you from my first visit with my mom during my high school days to many train shows through the years. Bob was an inspiration to my budding hobby of photographing railroad depots. His photographs and historical images are treasured and record important glimpses of railroad history. His legacy will live on.
John Rutherford
Rowena and I are so sorry for the loss of Uncle Bob. Such a generous and kind family man. We are so fortunate to have so many prints from Uncle Bob’s paintings displayed in our home to always remind us of him. To Aunt Bea and the family we express are sincere condolences. We wish we could have spent more time over the years with your family but the Marine Corps had different plans for me. We will pray for your family for a quick healing process.
John R. Johanssen
Dear Bea and family. Please accept our deepest sympathy on the loss of Bobby , as he was always lovingly known to us Johanssen’s.
I remember so well how my father, John (Bud) enjoyed being with Bob. They told many wonderful stories of their youth with Uncle Bob and Aunt Hallie.
I regret that we are not able to attend the Mass on Friday, but he and your family are in our prayers for solace and peace in the says ahead.
Blessings,
John R. johanssen and family.
Kim Auxter
Dear family of Mr. Lorenz, I met Bob when I was a young boy in Port Clinton at a art show at the city park. I remember looking at some of his paintings and prints and was in awe of his work. We chatted and he gave a print and a railroad hat. Fast forward 36 years when I went to his and his wife’s home to show him my print and asked him to sign it. My print became faded and he signed a new one for me. We talked for the afternoon and I came back at a later time to show him a railroad light I have had and the hat he gave me when I was 10. He gave me some history on my light which I greatly aprreciated. I am so sorry for your loss! He was a true gentleman! I still have my print hanging on my wall and my hat next to it. Thank you for sharing this wonderful man.