Dennis Funeral Homes

DARLENE RUTH (LORENZ) TONN, age 76 of Waterville died on Saturday, April 4, 2009 at the Waterville Good Samaritan Center after an 8 year battle with colon cancer.

Born on March 5, 1933 in Waterville Township, Le Sueur County, Minnesota, she was the daughter of Herman and Louise (Glende) Lorenz.  Darlene graduated from Waterville High School in 1951.  On July 1, 1956, Darlene was united in marriage to Lawrence Tonn at St. Peter’s (Bell) Lutheran Church in Le Sueur County.  This marriage was blessed with four children.  Darlene was a homemaker and worked for Jostens in Owatonna, Remington-Rand in St. Paul and for many years at the Singing Hills Girl Scout Camp.  She retired after 24 years as Head Cook for the Waterville-Elysian/Morristown Schools.  Darlene enjoyed gardening, quilting, travel, birds, and cats (especially Boots) and was a life long member of St. Peter’s (Bell) Lutheran Church.

She is survived by her husband, Lawrence of Waterville; children, Dave (Tina) Tonn of Waterville, Dan (Brenda) Tonn of Elysian, and Carol (John) Geier of Prior Lake; six grandchildren, Patricia (Matt) Kolling, Jessica (Chris) Kennedy, Phillip (Karissa) Tonn, Leslie Tonn, Megan Tonn, and Nicole Tonn; and great grandchildren, Addyson Kennedy and baby boy Tonn.  She is also survived by sisters, Marilyn Steele of Faribault, Jeanette (Jim) Beatty of Marine on St. Croix, and Janet Lorenz of New Brighton; and many nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents, one son-Jerome, and one grandson-Nicholas Tonn.

Visitation will be held at the Prosch-Dennis Funeral Home in Waterville on Tuesday, April 7, 2009 from 4-8 PM and continue on Wednesday, one hour before services at the church.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, April 8, 2009 at 11:00 AM at St. Peter’s “Bell” Lutheran Church in Le Sueur County, Minnesota with Rev. Russ Grabau officiating.  Burial will follow at St. Peter’s Lutheran Cemetery.