Norbert L. Lorenzen, 86, of Elkton, died Monday, June 4, 2018, at the Brookings hospital. Funeral services are at 2 p.m. Thursday at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Elkton. Visitation will be held prior to the service at the church beginning at 12:30 p.m. Rude’s Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Norbert Ludwig Lorenzen was born on Dec. 10, 1931, in Lester, Iowa, the son of Theodore and Bertha (Wulf) Lorenzen. He grew up near Lester on the family farm. He attended country school and graduated from Rock Rapids High School in 1950. While in high school he had a passion for playing football and baseball. He carried the nickname of ‘Ironman’ in school. After graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1951, where he served in Austria during the Korean War. Upon his honorable discharge, he began working as a farm hand for neighbors and relatives in Iowa.  He began farming on his own near Elkton in 1955. He married Margaret Zimmerman on June 3, 1956, in Sioux Falls.  The couple was blessed with three children, Jill, Todd and Larry. He continued to farm near Elkton until he retired at 81 years old. Throughout the years, he raised dairy cows, hogs, sheep, chickens and towards the end, feeder cattle. Norbert spent his later years at Park Place Assisted Living and United Living Community in Brookings.

During his life, Norbert and Margaret enjoyed bowling in mixed doubles leagues and singles leagues. He was a member of the American Legion in Elkton for 61 years. He was awarded the FFA Farmer of the Year in 1976. He was an avid sports fan, most notably following the Minnesota Vikings and Boston Celtics. He was a collector of toy tractors, collecting every tractor he had ever driven and enjoyed attending farm auctions.

Norbert is survived by his two sons, Todd (Diane) Lorenzen of Missoula, Montana, and Larry (Tracey) Lorenzen of Antioch, Illinois; six grandchildren; three great grandchildren; two brothers, Vernon (Penny) Lorenzen and Ted Lorenzen; two sisters, Donna Figoras and Elaine Ault and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, Ken, Loren and Dwight; his wife, Margaret and his daughter, Jill in infancy.

Condolences may be sent to the family through www.rudesfuneralhome.com