Lorraine Black

A service honoring Lorraine’s life will be Wednesday, July 16, at 11:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church. The family will greet friends from 9:30 to 10:45 prior to the service in the Church Commons. Arrangements have been entrusted to Gunderson Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Lorraine Hazel Theis was born January 18, 1935, in Badger Township, Webster County, Iowa. She was the daughter of Gustav Alvin Theis and Ethel Anna (Bock) Theis.

Surviving Lorraine are her husband Gene Black, sons, Perry (Sarah Burke), Barnum, Dean (Kristine Kimmel), Twin Lakes, Gary (Mary Kennedy), Cedar Rapids, daughter Lynn Allen (Terry) Cedar Falls; grandchildren Marc Black (Sarah Walderbach), Des Moines, Brad Black (Rachel Vernon) Rockwell City, Michele Black, (David A. “Charlie” Stuhr) Carroll, Jacob Black (Nicole Bolt), Aurora, IL, Angie Allen (Brandon Haldiman) San Clemente, CA, Charles “Chase” Allen (Emma Dau), Des Moines, Alex Allen (Kiana Barney), Cedar Falls, Reagan Black, Brookings, SD; step grandson John W. Magruder, Washington DC; great grandchildren, Avery and Miles Black, Des Moines, Aiden, Oliver, Alexander and Emma Black, Rockwell City, Jacey Gutshall, Carroll, Olivia Bolt Black, Aurora IL. Also surviving are brother-in-law James Black and nephew Brett Black, Red Oak, niece Debbie Black Grooms (Dennis) Camdenton, MO

Lorraine was a 1953 graduate of Fort Dodge Senior High. She was a homemaker, an amazing cook and baker, and a bus driver for Northwest Webster and Manson Northwest Webster schools for 21 years. She was a faithful member of the First Presbyterian Church of Fort Dodge and its Women’s Sewing group. She was a ministry team member, a 4-H leader and a Trinity Regional/Unity Point Volunteer for 24 years with 8035 hours of service. She held a private pilot’s license and was the Iowa Flying Farmers Chapter Queen in 1985. She frequently sewed baby blankets, placemats and table runners, coasters and potholders for gifts to family and friends. She was an avid bridge player.

Gene Black and Lorraine Theis were married at St. John’s Lutheran Church near Vincent on January 23, 1955. They lived in Colorado Springs, CO from 1955-1957 and in the Knierim and Barnum area from 1957 to present.

She was preceded in death by her parents Gustav “Gus” Theis and Ethel Bock Theis, a brother Alfred Theis, her in laws, Malcom “Mike” Black and Caroline “Carrie” Brown Black, and a sister-in-law, Janice Waggoner Black.