Lana Maureen Lorenzen

Lana Maureen Lorenzen, passed away unexpectedly yet peacefully on February 14, 2026—a fitting Valentine’s Day departure for a woman who gave so much love to her family.

Lana was born on July 21, 1951, in Westbrook, Maine to Alfred Lorenzen and Jean Halladay. She spent her early years in Maine then moved to Utah with her mother and siblings. After high school graduation in 1969, she enlisted in the Air Force. She was stationed in Germany and served as a supply clerk. She traveled all over Europe while stationed in Germany and developed a love for different cultures, countries and history. Lana was passionate about learning and knowledge. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Ancient Near Eastern Archaeology and Art History from UC Berkeley and also a Master of Social Work from the University of Utah. She was an accomplished writer and published an educational book with an ingenious method of teaching children to read that she developed called The Little Blue School House. She was brilliant and could talk about any subject that came up with confidence and ease.

Lana was a daughter, sister, aunt and friend who was generous with her heart, time and resources. In her younger years she helped her mother to provide her younger siblings with Christmases and never forgot a birthday. She was a loving caregiver to her mother in the final years of her life and did so with tender compassion. She is absolutely beloved by her nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. She wasn’t one to bake cookies with them, but she had a unique way of introducing information to them that most adults would not consider to be interesting to children. She was highly educated and a U.S. Air Force veteran and filled their minds with fascinating facts about aircraft carriers and the different types of planes they carry and functions they provide. The knowledge she shared about geology and archeology and history stimulated their young minds. She treated all of the children with love and respect. She was the biggest supporter of their dreams. She always told them they were the smartest and the best. She listened to everything they wanted to tell her. She loved them and they knew it. She is greatly missed by them.

Lana spent the last few years living in her casita that was especially built for her. She loved living right next to family and loved having the children come to her door to visit. She had so much fun going on wonderful adventures with her friend, Karen. She loved the beauty and geology of Southern Utah and she and Karen traveled all over the area. Lana loved every minute of it.

Lana was such a loving part of our family and we are sad to see her go but we know that she was happy to see our mother and all of her family again. We are also grateful that she went so peacefully with her cat laying quietly beside her.

Lana is survived by her two sisters, Sylvia Bartholomew (Greg) and Dawn Stites (Larry) and numerous nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.

In keeping with her wishes, her family will return Lana to the natural world she loved so much.