This page is dedicated to my maternal Grandfather
Edgar Ruben Lorenz
1920-2001
Grandpa was probably one of the most influential people in my life and helped to shape the person that I am today. He was the only grandfather that I ever knew and he helped to spark my interest in many things such as WWII, Farming, John Deere, German History & Heritage, Auctions, Bier, Spark Plug and Beer Can collecting. He helped teach me virtues of Value, Quality, Patience, Honesty, Integrity and the list goes on. For a man who never had the opportunity to attend formal education beyond the 8th grade his intellect always astounds me.
Something that probably best describes my grandfather is what I heard said at his funeral visitation, "Edgar never knew a stranger (because after 3 minutes from meeting him you were friends)!" All those who knew him often recall that he could "talk" your ear off and would praise his grandkids at every opportunity. He was well respected and loved by many. May the memories of him endure forever.
I intend to add to this page as time permits.
Here are several pictures which I have scanned from the originals.
Tyler & Grandpa sampling the BBQ June 4th, 1984. I was just over 1 year old.
Dad, Me, and Grandpa instructing me on the proper care & operation of my new toy John Deere hay baler, just like the balers which they both owned. Dad still owns the 336 JD baler which he bought from Edgar...it bales about 10-11,000 bales/year yet today. Grandpa always prided himself on the quality and reliability of his John Deere square baler. I guess you could say that I got started at a very early age.
Christmas Eve 1985 (I was not quite 2 years old).
Here is the new 327 John Deere hay baler and Grandpa on his 730 gas tractor right after he bought it new in June of 1984.
I was lucky enough to find the original sales forms at the JD dealership for this baler.
Here I am helping Grandpa on a cold February morning in 1987. His old 60's Ford Truck with a 3speed on the column got us where we needed to go. Helping Grandpa was always a highlight and one way that he helped instill a hard work ethic in me.
Grandpa on his John Deere 60 giving me (waving and wearing yellow boots) and my brother Alex a hayride in July of 1989. I remember helping him throw the hay bales out of the loft onto the wagon for us to sit on. Trips to Grandpa's farm were always special. I learned about so many things from him about life and about farming.
Edgar on his newly acquired 730 Gas John Deere tractor. It was his first and only tractor to feature power steering; something that my Grandma is very proud of. Photographed in September of 1980.
This day in May of 1993 was surely a difficult day for Edgar as he sold the 730 after retiring from farming in 1992. Coincidentally my dads cousin ended up buying the tractor and still gives hayrides to his grandkids.
Here is Edgar harvesting wheat in 1959. He's driving the only tractor that he ever bought new; a 1951 John Deere B which my uncle owns. It's pulling a 1950 model 12A John Deere combine powered by a John Deere LUC engine . He was sure proud of his John Deere tractors and would gladly tell anyone about them.
Like Grandpa Edgar would always say when you were leaving,
"Mach's gut Junge und komm gleich hin!"
This page was created on August the 17th, 2006
by Tyler Buchheit - proud Grandson of Edgar R. Lorenz
Last modified: 01/18/07