Ralph Michael Lorenc Ralph Michael “Mike” Lorenc, 69, of Joseph City, returned to his Heavenly Home on Monday, Aug. 30, 2021, after a valiant fight against the effects of COVID-19. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m., on Friday, Sept. 3, at the LDS church, located at 8181 Westover Ave., in Joseph City. Mike was born in Los Angeles, Calif., on Sept. 8, 1951, to the late Ralph Cameron Lorenc and Bonnie Elaine Blair. He graduated from Central High in Flint, Mich., and later earned an associate’s degree from Utah Technical College in Taylorsville, Utah. He was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, served in many different capacities, and was sealed to his best friend and eternal companion, Marilyn, in the temple. The passion he had for his faith had blossomed into a beautiful and important part of his life. Mike had an appreciation for good music, and had a lifelong passion for The Beatles, John Lennon and Paul McCartney; a passion he affectionately passed on to his children. Mike was an avid pigeon fancier and won multiple awards for his pigeons. Mike became a United States Marine in 1969 and was always incredibly proud of his service to our country, and his association with other Marines, with a hearty “Ooh-Rah” anytime he crossed paths with another Marine. Mike had many career interests and had gathered a wealth of experience from his different career paths, which ranged from auto body and paint to screen printing. He owned a T-shirt business for many years and focused his designs around life on the Arizona Native American reservations. Most recently Mike was a groundskeeper for Joseph City Schools, which he retired from in 2016. He loved a good conversation and was blessed with the ability to start conversation with anyone he met. He was well known to those who worked at the businesses he frequented, and always knew each teller at the bank by name. He could be gruff at times, but was curious and friendly to most who crossed paths with him. He could be a real goofball, and often made driving in the car or watching Love Connection more entertaining by inserting his own interpretation of conversations happening in other cars, or on the TV show, which was always a riot. Mike had a large extended family and left a lasting legacy of influence among his siblings and many nieces and nephews. In retirement he was blessed to take an active role with his grandsons, which impacted him greatly. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Bonnie Lorenc; two sisters, Cheryl and Rhonda Davis; and brother, Ron Lorenc. Mike is survived by his wife of 36 years, Marilyn; and his eight children, Catherine Seivert (Doug), Mike Lorenc, Brandi Bond (Mark), Levi Lorenc (Jamie), Jacob Lorenc, Zach Lorenc (Melissa), Brianna Allen (Tommy) and Harrison Lorenc. He is also survived by five siblings, Cameron Lorenc, Candace Clark, Chris Mickelson, Randy Lorenc and Jon Lorenc. He has 16 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Greer’s Mortuary of Winslow handled the arrangements.
