Marlys Lortscher Obituary

Marlys Georgene (Hattemer) Lortscher, 85, entered eternity on Monday, Jan. 9, 2017 at her home with her family around her.
    She was born in the Lake City Hospital on Sept. 12, 1931, to Mierl and Ruth (Brock) Hattemer. She grew up in the Lake City area attending Wabasha and Goodhue country schools. She was baptized and confirmed at St John's Lutheran Church of Frontenac. She graduated from Lincoln High School in 1949. She attended Medical Secretary School in Winona after which she started working for Mayo Clinic as a surgical stenographer at St. Marys, the Colonial, (now Methodist), Warrall and Kahler on the 11th and 12th floors.
    On April 7, 1951, she married Leland L. Lortscher in Lake City at St. John’s Lutheran Church. They made their home in Rochester and later moved to Lake City where they raised their family. She worked as a secretary at Di-Acro Corp., then as a medical secretary at Lake City Hospital and the Lake City Nursing Home. After retiring, she worked at the Sunset Motel as manager.
    She served St. John's Church in Lake City for 60 years in Ladies Aide. As part of the AFS program, Leland and Marlys hosted two students, one from Barbados in 1978-79 and one from New Zealand in 1980-81. She was active in the Wabasha County Red Cross for 23 years, a member and officer of the Lake City Hospital Auxiliary for 25 years, and the Lake City Woman's Club. She was also a member and officer of the Lutheran Women's Missionary Society, the Hiawatha district.
    One of her joys in life was her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and spending time with
her family. Her grandchildren called her "the camera grandma" as she always carried her camera with her and took so many pictures.
    Marlys also loved to travel, read, and play cards. She and her husband traveled through most of Canada, all the United States, Alaska, and Hawaii. They traveled to Barbados in the Carribbean to visit Fay (AFS student) and her family twice and to New Zealand once to visit Doris (AFS student) and her family.
    She is survived by one son, Steven (Marilyn) of Florida/Lake City; three daughters, Diane (Russ) Wilke of Neenah, Wis., Doreen (Doug) Ross of North Wales, Pa. and Bonnie (Kevin) Luhman of Goodhue, 15 grandchildren and their spouses; 36 great-grandchildren, two foreign exchange students, Fay (Leroy) Parris of Barbados and Doris (James) Middleton of New Zealand; one brother, Stan of Mazeppa, two sisters, Joan Kendall of Hastings and Phylis (Ed) Morehouse of Colorado/Arizona; one sister-in-law, Phylis (Ken) Sprick of Zumbro Falls; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leland, who she now joins in heaven, her sister, Janice Peterson, her brother, Elliot and her parents and grandparents.
    Marlys has donated her body to Mayo Foundation's Uniform Anatomical Gift Act.
    Services will be held at St John's Lutheran Church in Lake City on Monday, Feb. 20 at 2 p.m.. with visitation starting at 12:30 p.m.