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Obituary: Harry E. Lorence

Sun, Feb 25th 2018 04:05 pm
April 28, 1934 - Feb. 16, 2018
Harry E. Lorence, a retired golf course superintendent of the Beaver Island State Park Golf Course, entered into rest Feb. 16, 2018.
Lorence was hired to work with the architect while the Beaver Island State Park Golf Course was being constructed and was the first golf course superintendent there for over 25 years.
Before he was superintendent at Beaver Island State Park Golf Course, he worked at Park Country Club Golf Course and was the assistant superintendent of Westwood Country Club Golf Course.
He wrote two books: "Hay, How's Your Lawn," and "Golfers Do It in the Rough."
He also had articles published in "Golfdome" and "Park Maintenance" magazines.
He lived 21 years in the Beaver Island State Park with his wife, Roberta, and six children.
His father, Edwin Lorence, was the Park Club Golf Course superintendent for 40 years. And one of his sons, Kris, was the golf course superintendent at the River Oaks Golf Course on Grand Island and also at the Niagara Falls Country Club in Lewiston. The Lorence family has been associated with golf course maintenance in this area for over 100 years.
Harry used to say: "I like what I did, making 300 acres of land looking beautiful for people to play on."
Born April 28, 1934, he was son of the late Edwin and Irene Lorence; brother of Norma (late Michael) Ferguson and the late Anita (Clarence) Stucki.
He was a graduate of Williamsville High School where he played varsity baseball. He was a graduate of the University of Buffalo where he was the catcher on the baseball team. He also graduated from the University of Massachusetts Turf Management School.
He played baseball in many leagues: Amherst A.C., Phoenix Brewery and Grand Island leagues. He played softball and volleyball with his sons on Grand Island and also played co-ed softball with his wife and all six children on the same Grand Island team. The "All Lorence" team - with children's spouses playing, too - won several championships.
Harry married Roberta Cronin in 1955.
He was the loving father of the late Kim Marie Lorence, Kurt (Patricia) Lorence, Kris (Tessie) Lorence, Kent (Patricia) Lorence, Kyle (late Darlene) Lorence, Kristin (Jeffrey) Kryszczuk, and K. Jonathan Lorence.
He was the cherished grandfather of Robert, Maria, Elizabeth, Kelly, Ava, Audrey, Shannon, Matthew, Kyle, Hailey, Tyler and Mason.
He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
There is no prior visitation; services, private. Interment will be in Maple Grove Cemetery, Stony Point Road, at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25.
Arrangements by Lombardo Funeral Home (Northtowns Chapel). Online condolences at www.lombardofuneralhome.com.

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