Died Thursday, May 25, 2023 at Prairie Meadows Memory Care in Omaha
Donna Mae Lorenz Goff was born on May 30, 1932, in Plainview, Nebraska, to Milton and Helen Lorenz. She graduated from Oakland High School in 1949, then attended Wayne State College for two years, earning a teaching certificate. After going to several interviews she decided teaching wasn't for her. She went to the University of Nebraska College of Medicine and graduated in 1955 with a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology. She worked for a while as a medical technologist in Omaha and Lincoln, then at the Fremont Hospital for over thirty years, many of those years taking the night shift. She was a well-loved employee. In 1955 she married Floyd Goff in Stuttgart, Germany, and to this union four children were born - Anne, James, Sara and Kathryn.
Donna had a wonderfully unique sense of humor, loved life and lived it passionately. Traveling was a driving force for her and she journeyed to New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong, Germany, Italy, France, Australia, Switzerland, Norway, Czech Republic, Iceland, Greece, the Netherlands, South Africa, Mexico, and Canada, as well as throughout the United States, including Hawaii and Alaska. She loved all forms of theatre, experiencing nature, cats, ice cream, and jigsaw puzzles; reading, playing cards (she was an avid Bridge payer), and art (for many years she went to an art show in Michigan with an artist friend) . Another great love was experiencing new things. She would read about something new (or new to her) and try it out - things like restaurants, Lauritzen Gardens, Shakespeare on the Green, and Chautauquas. Arranging family get-togethers was a favorite thing - Thanksgiving dinners, Christmas parties with visits from Santa, picnics, and pumpkin decorating are some examples. Early mornings usually found her at a favorite restaurant with a cup of coffee and a newspaper, and before leaving she worked the crossword with a pen.
Donna was preceded in death by her parents Milton Lorenz, and Helen and Alvin Backstrom; son James; ex-husband Floyd; sister-in-law Marjorie Miller; son-in-law Howey Riggs; and brother Harley Backstrom. She is survived by daughter Anne Goff of Fremont, Nebraska; daughter Sara (Mark) McGinnis of Omaha; daughter Kathryn Riggs of Omaha; sisters Barb Sparks and Mary (Dennis) Picken, both of Omaha; grandchildren Daniel Riggs of Ames, Nebraska, and Aurora and Kyle McGinnis of Omaha; brothers-in-law James (Charlene) Goff of Burwell, Nebraska, and JB Miller of Lincoln; one niece; five nephews; several great nieces and nephews; other relatives; and friends.
The funeral will be 1pm, Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at the Ludvigsen Mortuary Chapel in Fremont with the Rev. Tony Dawson officiating. Burial will follow in Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour before the service at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to Heifer International, Fremont Area Alzheimer's Collaboration, or The Arbor Day Foundation.
Online guestbook at www.Ludvigsenmortuary.com
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