J Edward Lorenz

Colonel J Edward Lorenz passed away on April 24, 2018. He was born on February 16, 1925 in Belleville, Illinois to Lt Colonel Edward and Helen (Bertelsman) Lorenz, who are both deceased.

In 1949, he married Carla June Schoenstein, who died in 1982 after a lengthy illness. Over Colonel Lorenz’s 30-year career as an Air Force officer, they made 18 PCS moves.

In 1983, he married Bettie Jean Collins Wroe at the USAFA. She died in 2013. Bettie and Ed enjoyed traveling and visited most of the 50 states and over 30 foreign countries.

He is survived by three children: General Stephen Lorenz (Leslie) of Colorado Springs, Julie Ann Remmert (Stephen) of Crossville, Tennessee, and Lt Colonel Jeffrey Lorenz (Connie) of Eagle River, Alaska; two step children: Jeffrey Wroe (Allison), and Duggins Wroe; ten grandchildren; and five great grandchildren.

Colonel Lorenz had the privilege of swearing his sons, Stephen (1973) and Jeffrey (1981) into the Air Force and his daughter, Julie (1977) and step son, Jeffrey Wroe (1987) into the Army; as well as a number of Air Force Academy Cadets that Ed and Bettie sponsored over the years.

He received his early education in Belleville, Illinois. Colonel Lorenz earned his Bachelor of Science degree from St. Louis University and his master’s degree in public administration from the University of Northern Colorado. His military schools included The United States Military Academy, where he was a cadet for 18 months, The USAF Navigator School, The Missile Operations Officers School, Squadron Officers School, The Air Command and Staff College, and The Air War College.

Colonel Lorenz served as an enlisted man in the Army Air Forces from 1943 to 1945, during World War II. Subsequently, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force and called to active duty in 1950. During the Korean War, he flew 50 combat bombardment missions over North Korea in the B-26. In Vietnam, he flew 35 combat airlift missions in the C-123.

His missile experience included three years as a Missile Combat Crew Commander and Site Commander with the 38th Tactical Missile Wing (TM-76) at Hahn Air Force in Germany, two years detailed to NASA at The Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, where he worked on The Gemini and Apollo programs, and two years as the Wing Operations Group Commander and Wing Vice Commander of the 381st Strategic Missile Wing at McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas.

His personal decorations included the Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, and the Air Medal with three oak clusters. He was also awarded the French Navigator Wings for his work in training French Navigator students.

Colonel Lorenz concluded his active military career as the Wing Commander of the 330th Technical Training Wing at Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois in July of 1980. Since then, he retired in Colorado Springs.

Ed continued his legacy of service in retirement serving as president of the Pikes Peak Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (formerly TROA), president of The Colorado Council of Chapters of MOAA, and for six years as a National Board Member of MOAA, as well as being a life member of the VFW, DAV, and NAUS.

He was also a Republican Precinct Committeeman for the 93rd Precinct of El Paso County for over 20 years and was a delegate to all county and state Republican assemblies during that time. He also served as a volunteer at the Retiree Activities Office at Peterson Air Force Base.

He will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, devout Christian, and unwavering patriot.

The funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, May 3, 2018, with a visitation one-hour prior, at The Air Force Academy Community Chapel, 5134 Cathedral Drive. Interment will take place at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colorado.