Donald W. Lorenzen

Donald (Don) William Lorenzen, 82, most recently of Dyer, Indiana, passed unexpectedly on April 9, 2018.  He was a gregarious man who loved his family deeply and made many friends throughout his life.  Born on May 4, 1935, Don was the son of Claude and Emma Lorenzen.  He grew up on the South Side of Chicago with his two brothers, Bob and John, and three sisters, Helen, Miriam and his beloved twin sister, Dorothy.  Don joined the Air Force at age 17 and became the crew chief for the 57 ^th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (the “Black Knights”) stationed in Reykjavik, Iceland.  After serving his country, Don joined the Chicago Fire Department in 1960.  With his brother firefighters, he proudly served the people of Chicago for the next 34 years, retiring as Captain of Truck Company 16 in 1994.  Don married the love of his life, Cherie, in 1963.  Together they raised their son, Don, and daughter, Dawn (Aubert).  Don was his children’s’ hero, and they will miss him dearly.  Don also leaves behind four adoring grandchildren, Julia, Katherine, and Natalie Aubert, and Nicholas Lorenzen, along with his son-in-law, Patrick Aubert, and daughter-in-law, Kristen Lorenzen.

Memorial Visitation, Friday, April 13, 2018, between 4 and 8 p.m. at Smits Funeral Home, 2121 Pleasant Springs Lane, Dyer, Indiana.

Memorial Service, Saturday, April 14, 2018, beginning at 10:30 a.m. from Smits Funeral Home, proceeding to Holy Cross Cemetery, 801 Michigan City Rd., Calumet City, Illinois.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance ( www.ifsa.org ),  which holds summer camps for children who are burn victims.