Lorene was born April 9, 1927, in Norton, to Nicholas and Agnes (Hamel) Esslinger and passed away peacefully on March 11, 2024, at the Andbe Home in Norton.
She grew up on a farm southeast of Norton with three brothers and two sisters and graduated from NCHS in 1944. She lived in Denver for a short time and then moved back to Norton and married Donald Rex Wertenberger on Dec. 12, 1945. They had two sons Donald and Robert and twin daughters Janet and Janel. Her husband Rex died on Dec. 2, 1978. Lorene married J.W. Hessenflow on March 7, 1987. JW died April 24, 1992.
Lorene was employed as a school cook at Eisenhower School in Norton until retiring in 1992 after 25 years. Through the years, she was a Cub Scout den mother, Brownie Scout den mother, Avon salesperson, loved to play bridge, sew, knit, needlework, crochet, and various arts and crafts. She enjoyed square dancing, playing cards and was an excellent cook. She was very active in the community and with her friends and hobbies.
In 2004 she moved to Hays. She was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Hays.
She had been living with her daughter in Lee's Summit from July 2017 to June 2023 when she moved to the Norton Andbe Home.
Survivors include son, Robert (Nancy) Wertenberger, Hays; daughter, Janet Rosenbaugh and partner Bruce Phillips, Perry, Kan.; daughter-in-law, Grace Wertenberger, Hays; granddaughters: Lisa Payne, Olathe, Kansas, Lindsey Wertenberger, Broken Arrow, Okla., and Laura (Patrick) Chavez, Commerce City, Colo.; grandsons: Jason Arnold (Alissa) of Lee’s Summit, Mo., Robert (Whitney) Farrell, Basehor, Daniel (Sara) Wertenberger, Hays, and Caleb Wertenberger, Ellis.
Preceding her in death: husband, Rex Wertenberger; husband, JW Hessenflow; son, Donald Alan; daughter, Janel Arnold; two grandsons, Ryan and Gabriel Wertenberger; brothers, Melvin, Bufford and Richard; sisters, Stella Sloan and Mabel Clark.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 16, 2024, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Norton.
Burial will follow in the Norton Cemetery. A Rosary will be said at 10 a.m. before the service at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to the Andbe Home or Hospice Services of NWKS and may be sent in care of Plumer-Gobber Funeral Home, 215 W. Main St., Norton, KS 67654.
Condolences may be left at www.plumergobber.com.