Lorraine Gratz

Lorraine J. Gratz, age 90 of New Hampton, died Saturday February 15, 2014 at her home. A Memorial Mass will be held 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 19, 2014, at the Hugeback Johnson Funeral Home in New Hampton with Rev. Mark Osterhaus presiding. Interment will take place at a later date in Arizona. Friends may greet the family an hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Lorraine J. Gratz, was born December 19, 1923, in Winona, MN, the daughter of John and Victora (Dublinaski) Klaviter. She received her education in Winona and graduated from Winona High School. Shortly after graduation she married Joseph Gratz. The couple were married in Milwaukee, WI in 1942.To this union, one son, Eugene, was born. While in Milwaukee she worked at Hot Point for many years, and enjoyed her job. The couple then moved to Sun Lakes, AZ. While they were living there, Lorraine worked as a house keeper. Lorraine then moved to New Hampton to be near her family in 1994. Baking was Lorraine’s favorite hobby. She always cooked cookies for her friends and family. She would take them tins full of cookies every week. Lorraine was always very organized, and followed a very tight schedule. She never missed her television shows, which included Wheel of Fortune and Lawrence Welk. Survivors include one daughter-in-law, Carol Gratz of New Hampton; one grandson, Kristofer (Rachel Gaffney) Gratz of Fredericksburg; two step grandchildren, Sarah Eichenberger of Evansdale and Philip (Kerrie) Eichenberger of Ionia; one great-grandaughter, Rylee Gratz of Fredericksburg; four step great-grandchildren, Jewel Eichenberger, Hannah Eichenberger, Lily Eichenberger, and Nicholas Dennler all of Ionia. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Joseph in 1993; her son, Eugene in 2008; grandson, David Gratz; two sisters; and one brother.