Lorraine M.  Ranek

Lorraine Marie (Voracek) Ranek was born June 27, 1924, in Tyndall, South Dakota to Joseph and Tillie (Simek) Voracek. After attending eight years in a country school, Lorraine attended high school in Scotland, SD. Lorraine was a member of St. Leo’s Catholic Church where she was baptized, confirmed, and on January 3, 1940, united in marriage to Klements James Ranek by Father Dooley. They made their home on a farm south of Tyndall, where they farmed and raised their family.
After the accidental death of her husband on January 14, 1969, Lorraine and her younger children moved into Tyndall. Lorraine received her training and a job as a Certified Nursing Assistant at St. Michael’s Hospital in Tyndall, where she was employed for over 33 years before retiring.
Her tremendous faith and courageous loving spirit carried Lorraine throughout her life. She had a lifelong devotion to her children and grandchildren and their education. Lorraine always enjoyed going to their activities and watching their sporting events.
Lorraine was very active in her church. She was a member of the St. Leo’s Altar Society and the Holy Rosary Court 198. She served on the St. Leo’s Parish Council and for years worked at church bazaars and planned soup kitchens. Lorraine was a Eucharistic minister and a member of the Hospital Auxiliary and the Samaritan Guild. She was a food pantry coordinator and also assisted as a Cub Scout leader. Lorraine enjoyed sewing, making crafts, and playing cards. She loved to cook and bake for her family, especially during Christmas. Lorraine liked to travel. A very memorable trip for her was when she went to Rome for the Special Blessing by Pope John Paul II in October of 2000. Lorraine died June 6, 2016, at Majestic Bluffs Senior Living Center in Yankton.
Lorraine is survived by 4 children: Connie (Jeffrey) Clark and Jeanne Murphy of Denver, CO; Thomas (Lori) Ranek and Kenneth (Karen) Ranek of Tyndall; 17 grandchildren: Kevin Ranek, Jason Clark, Aaron Clark, Amy (Andy) Wein, Kori (Julian) Tonsmeire, Ryan (Stacey) Murphy, Mikki (Chris) Mundorf, Justin (Shawn) Ranek, Travis (Jessica) Ranek, Jesse (Jenna) Ranek, Matt Ranek, Josh (Danielle) Ranek, Amber (Anthony) Galbraith, Mark (Leslie) Ranek, Scott (Julie) Ranek, Kayla Ranek, and Lance Ranek; 25 great-grandchildren; 3 step-great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; two daughters-in-law Betty Ranek and Debbie Maxwell; one brother Roy Voracek of Yankton; and many nieces and nephews.
Lorraine was preceded in death by her husband Klements, daughter Carol, sons Dale and Michael, granddaughter Sherri Ann Clark, one brother Bill Voracek, eight sisters-in-law and six brothers-in-law.