Hope Elaine (Newton) Lohrke, 97, of Albion passed peacefully on Wednesday, July 22, 2020 at Marshall Nursing and Rehab. She was born May 25, 1923 in Greenville, MI, the daughter of EJ and Ella Sue (Greenman) Woodworth. They moved to Albion when Hope was in the 9th Grade, and she graduated from Albion H.S. in the class of 1941. She married Leonard Lohrke,Jr. on October 24, 1942 in Kentucky before Jr. shipped out to fight in World War II.
Hope was a selfless, caring woman who suffered the loss of a daughter and a son in the prime of their lives, yet she persevered in spite of it. She had a generous spirit and her door was always open. She was her family’s rock - a calming, stable and steady presence, fiercely loyal, and endlessly willing to lend a helping hand. She loved watching her Detroit Tigers and feeding the wild birds, raccoons, skunks and deer that paraded through her yard on Irwin Avenue, as well as taking in the strays she never had the heart to turn away. She and Jr. spent many winters traveling to California and Mexico in their fifth wheeler. Hope was a member of the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and the Friendship League, and she was both a Camp Fire Girls and Horizon Club Leader.
Hope is survived by son Leonard D. (Elaine) Lohrke, III of Homer. She is also survived by 6 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, and 5 great great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jr., her daughter, Kathleen Benden, and her son, Lee Roy “Joe” Lohrke.
Due to COVID-19, a memorial will be planned for a later date.
Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery.
Arrangements by the J. Kevin Tidd Funeral, 811 Finley Drive, Albion, MI 49224
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