Lorraine Marie Klehr Borka
Posted By Ballard Sunder Funeral Home On March 7, 2018 @ 11:12 am In 2018,Obituaries | 25 Comments
Lorraine Marie Klehr Borka, longtime resident of Prior Lake, passed away Tuesday, March 6, 2018 at the age of 91. A visitation will be held Monday, March 12, 2018 from 3-7PM at Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation, Prior Lake. Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at 11AM with a visitation from 9:30-10:45AM all at St. Michael Catholic Church, Prior Lake. Lorraine will be laid to rest at St. Michael Catholic Cemetery. Father Tom Walker will preside.
On July 27, 1926, parents Jacob and Theresa (Kersting) Klehr, celebrated the birth of their daughter, Lorraine Marie Klehr. She was the youngest of twelve to be raised on the Klehr farm by Marystown. Unfortunately, when Lorraine was 4 years old her father passed away. Her mother later remarried, and the family moved into Marystown. From a young age, Lorraine had a sense of humor and often played pranks on her siblings. Consequently, she also became skilled at running and hiding when they became upset with her.
Lorraine attended Marystown Catholic School until the 8th grade before striking out on her own. By age 17 she was the manager of National Tea Grocery Store in Shakopee. Always motivated, Lorraine knew she didn’t need higher education to succeed. On September 12, 1944, Lorraine was married to Norbert Borka at St. Mary of the Purification.
Along with her husband, Lorraine later ran her own business—Borka’s Lawn Ornaments & Gift Shop. What began as a cement business, grew into Lorraine’s passion. Wanting to keep employees busy in the winter months, Lorraine encouraged them to make lawn ornaments. Realizing they had little interest in this, Lorraine began doing it herself despite being a full-time mother and volunteer at the VFW.
As Lorraine’s family grew, they moved from Shakopee to Prior Lake. Lorraine loved spending time with her family, especially cooking and playing music for them on Sundays—despite never having a music lesson, Lorraine was extremely musical. She loved a good polka! In the last weeks of Lorraine’s life, she spent countless hours with her family, telling her grandchildren and great-grandchildren stories from her life.
Lorraine taught her family many lessons about working hard, having fun, and maintaining faith. As a devout Catholic, Lorraine prayed the rosary daily for her family. This gave her strength when facing the hardship of her husband’s death in 1993, her son Larry’s death in 2000, and her own brief struggle with Leukemia. When Lorraine was unable to attend church, she watched mass on the TV.
Three things mattered most to Lorraine—her family, the gift shop, and volunteering at the VFW. While Norbert was deployed, Lorraine vowed that if he returned she’d dedicate her time to veterans. Fulfilling her vow, Lorraine was active in the Ladies Auxiliary on the local, state, and national level. She served as the president of the Prior Lake Auxiliary three times, district president from 1977-1988, and the state president from 1987-1988. Through the auxiliary, Lorraine also served from 1990-1991 and 1993-1994 as the National Rehabilitation Director and from 1991-1992 as the National Hospital Director.
Lorraine was a go-getter who had many hobbies. She loved making and painting lawn ornaments and wall plaques, doing embroidery, gardening, fishing, canning, and playing bingo. Lorraine was notoriously lucky. She traveled as far as Hong Kong and Rome where she was privileged to have met Pope John Paul II.
Lorraine was a class act—she never left home without her hair and makeup done. She was generous, kind and always found the good in others. She was fiercely motivated to give her time and talents to family, friends, and community.
She will be missed by her by children, Darlene (John) Richardson, Karen (Leo Dorn) Seifert, Duane Borka, Mary Kay (Tim) Wagner; 14 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Betty Haugh.
She is greeted in Heaven by her husband, Norbert; son, Larry; son-in-law, Jim Seifert; grandson, Josh Wagner; parents; 11 siblings & their spouses.
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I am so glad I was able to be her friend and companion since 2005. She often called me her guardian angel but she was my Guardian Angel, and there for me in so many ways, especially when my Mom had Alzheimer’s. Lorraine was there I lost my Mom, and talked with me about my Dad. Don Heuer and Troy Heuer along with my husband Don Skluzacek and I went to visit for the last time the day of my Dad’s funeral, Tuesday Feb 27, 2018. A lot of phone calls to her and visits with her. She and I had many talks about our health we both had congestive heart failure and she said she was ready for God, she would miss her family, but when God wanted her she would be ready. A week after our last visit, my friend, Lorraine was ready to be with God, Tuesday March 6, 2018. She and I will meet again. A Southern Comfort with diet 7, I will have at our VFW 6208 in your honor Saturday March 10, 2018. The heavens are glowing and happy to have you with family and friends. Till then R.I.P. Lorraine Borka. Dancing Polkas and Waltzing in heaven wittyh Norbert your favorite Veteran.
My thoughts and prayers are with you all during this difficult time.
For me Lorraine was always someone I admired since childhood. She was always so kind to me and my family. She will truly be missed by many.
Rest in peace Lorraine. We love you.
Our prayers and thoughts are with the Borka family.
Sending heartfelt condolences to the Borka family.
Many hugs, tears, prayers and sympathies times a million to the entire family. This lady was a class act and if you were lucky enough to have known her, heard her stories, play cards with her and laugh with her, you are gifted by Gods grace. She will be greatly missed.
Sure will miss that strong women. She was like a sister my mom never had, even though she was my great aunt. She was always one you could count on to help where ever it was needed. Differently someone I looked up to & will be greatly missed.
My heart goes out to the family! She was such a great lady and she treated me like one of the family. My condolences to all of you .
My deepest sympathies to the entire family. Lorraine was my second Mom in my younger years; we were neighbors and Mary Kay and I were tied at the hip they would say. I had many sleep overs at the Borka home and always with open arms and fun! Many many VFW events there were and Lorraine was there, and I remember those after bar card games our parents would play….she loved her cards! Rest in Peace Lorraine, you’ve done a fantastic job raising your family, it’s your turn to dance free!
So sorry for your loss. Lorraine was a great lady and always full of joy. Her smile radiated to all that she encountered. May all of you feel God’s peace during this difficult time.
My deepest condolences on your loss. I remember her with very fond memories.
Mary Kay,
We are so sorry for your loss. We have lots of memories of you and your mom playing bingo at the vfw. May the woman mom was live on in every generation.
Thought and prayers, Lorraine was a special lady, an example of how to live life to the fullest. She will be missed
I am so glad I got to work with Lorraine on a few Monday burger nights! She was such a special lady! Our thoughts & prayers are with the family!
I will miss this fantastic, beautiful lady. She was truly a classy, dignified, kind person with a spunky personality that made her so much fun to be around! I have known her for 47 years and was privileged to visit with her and a few friends almost weekly for a card game for the last 10+ years. She called me her “social director” as I made all the calls to organize the events in the most recent years. The Prior Lake VFW Auxiliary was fortunate to have such a dedicated volunteer. And she recruited me to “volunteer” for many projects and to be Prior Lake’s Auxiliary President along side of her during her year as Auxiliary State President. It was an honor I will always cherish. A week before she passed away she told me she loved me and thought the world of me and I told her that the feeling was mutual. So glad I got to be her friend!!!! My sincere sympathy to her family. She was the Best!
Our condolences to the Borka family.
You are in our thoughts and prayers.
My dear aunti Lorraine still remember the days on the Keop farm, worked hard but never went hungry you and Norbert were an awesome couple to work for, We caponized chickens, got canberries from the pasture and grapes that grew wild along with other berries, also did some fishing. All from where the Wild golf course is now. Hate to say goodbye to you, but we must God bless you, are so loved!!
My thoughts and prayers to the family. Lorraine was such a special person who will be remembered forever. She will be deeply missed.
We were saddened to receive word of Lorraine’s passing. A true friend to all who got to spend time with her. She was “in the chairs” at the same time as I was the Department VFW aux. President in 1983-84. I have always cherished our time together, We hadn’t seen each other over the past few years, but always kept in touch with Christmas card messages. Hold on to those memories of this loving lady. May she be Sheltered in the Arms of GOD. Donna and Roy Ouart.
Lorraine will be missed by many. I am so happy to have had the opportunity to spend a few weekends away with Lorraine on conventions. Very good memories! My condolences goes out to her family.
Lorraine was such a wonderful and bright light in this world! She holds a special place in the hearts of our family.
Our condolences.
-Katie (Ferrier) LaMere and Family.
To the Borka family,
I want to express my sympathy on the loss of your mother, she was a great lady.
Rest in peace. Lorraine.
Our Prayers and thoughts go out to the Borka families. Lorraine was an amazing, beautiful lady. Her contagious smile will be missed by all.
Our sincere condolences to the family of Lorraine Borka. We always enjoyed stopping by her place on the lake, especially on a Sunday afternoon when her yard was filled with family and friends of all ages. She was always cheerful and welcoming, but especially so when we brought Hedy Joachim (95 years old from Jordan) along to visit with her.
I came across this site when I was trying to figure out where my dear mother bought a beautiful ceramic titled “Last Supper” ornament that’s been in our family for years. On the back was a tag labeled “Borka Ornament & Gift Shop. “Lorriane’s” Hand Finished Wall Plaques. Prior Lake, MN. After reading her obituary I can see how a pure-of-heart woman could craft a beautiful ceramic.
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Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you. Lorraine was a very special person!