Mrs. Lorraine Straw, age 92 of Bolivar, MO, passed away Saturday, April 20, 2019, at Citizens Memorial Healthcare Facility Bolivar, MO. She was born on a farm September 29, 1926, in Flagler, CO, to John Alfred “JA” and Louisa Christina (Mueller) Polzin. Along with her parents and brother, Marvin H. Polzin, they moved to Missouri to continue farming, when Lorraine was a young child.
She was united in marriage to S. Gene Straw, October 23, 1948, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Warrensburg, MO. He preceded her in death in 2005.
She received her bookkeeping degree from the University of Ohio-Akron in 1946. She was the secretary to the dean at Central Missouri State College in Warrensburg (Now the University of Central Missouri) from 1946-1948.
At the age of 18 she became the Church organist and retired at the age of 88. She had also been the church choir director and taught Sunday school. She was a long-time member of Lutheran Women’s Missionary League where she had served as Archivist/Historian for the LWML MO District in the 1980’s. She volunteered for Lutheran Braille Workers and she was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Bolivar.
She and her husband farmed in Henry and Pettis counties. They moved to the Branson area in 1961, and they later became the owners of Indian Point Landing and Marina on Table Rock Lake. Upon their retirement in 1995, they moved to Bolivar.
She is survived by two sons: Christopher (Dorothy) Straw, Springfield, MO, and Curtis (Sandy Mincks) Straw, Cape Fair, MO; her daughter Annette (Todd) Kanoy of Concordia, MO; Seven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren; a sister in-law, the Rev. Treva Hall Springfield, MO.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents and her brother.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 10:00 Am Friday, April 26, 2019, at the Zion Lutheran Church Bolivar, MO, with Pastor Tom Rhodes officiating. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery Bolivar, MO. There will be a visitation one hour before the service from 9:00 to 10:00 at the church.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to: Lutheran Hour Ministries/Zion Lutheran Church Bolivar, MO. Online condolences may be made at: www.greenlawnfuneralhome.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to Pitts Chapel Bolivar, MO.