Lauretta Hedwig Nelson

Lauretta Loritz was born 7/8/1931 in Hebron, North Dakota to Henry and Elizabeth Loritz - among a family of 8 children. She grew up on the Loritz Homestead -a dairy farm within a German community. She graduated from Hebron High School in 1949, attended one year of college in Dickinson, ND - and then worked as a teacher in a one room schoolhouse. As fate would have it, she met the love of her life in a San Diego bus station - a Navy signalman: Robert (Bob) Lee Nelson. They married 6 weeks later on July 12, 1952 in Yuma, Arizona. She has 3 children, 5 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren who adore their GiGi.

Lauretta blossomed into a social butterfly in high school. In her adult life, she worked as a volunteer social director at both Boulder and Greeley Country Clubs for many years. In her senior life, she volunteered at Neighbors Who Care and as a bridge group coordinator at Cottonwood Country Club in Sun Lakes, Arizona. She and Bob loved dancing together everything from jitterbug to polkas! They were such a delight to watch. Lauretta played a fun repertory of 40's - 1950s piano songs. She was never one to miss a party, always the gracious, vivacious hostess and absolutely wicked at cards - she brought fun and laughter and decks of cards wherever she went and happily taught anyone and everyone all sorts of card games -but the standards were tough and bar ever held high. She believed in striving for and expecting the best in each one of us in all things.

She devotedly followed her husband, Bob, far and wide - wherever his career carried them. She was the organized and supportive pillar of the family as they lived in California, Texas, Colorado, then retired in Arizona. She easily made dear friends wherever she lived. She was an optimist, hopeful and caring. One of her favorite phrases was "What a world we live in!"

She was utterly devastated when her husband, Bob, died in November 2001, before their 50th anniversary, but went on to extensive traveling with around the world, continuing her friendships and residence in Arizona.

She relocated to Colorado to be closer to her family. She has resided at Springwood Senior Community where she gathered yet another set of wonderful friends. Her shining example of how to abide in a friendly, senior community and pass on to the closing stage of her life has been amazing. She has touched hearts all around her. She will be missed and cherished by so many as she leaves behind an abundance of wonderful memories.