Lenora Stoehr Jorstad

Lenora (Beach) Stoehr Jorstad of La Crescent went to her heavenly home on the second day of Christmas--- Wednesday, December 26, 2018 at the age of 89 years, 3 months, and 3 days. She was the fifth child born to Earl and Stella (Luce) Beach on September 23, 1929. Lenora was raised on their family farm in rural La Crescent (Pine Creek). She attended Ireland grade school on South Ridge. Shortly after her father passed away at the age of 49 in December of 1942, she and her younger sister moved with their mother to La Crosse. While there, she attended Lincoln Junior High and Central High School. They eventually moved back to La Crescent. During the summer, Lenora was a waitress at Carroll’s and The Commodore in La Crescent. She also worked with her mother at the Auto Lite before being hired at La Crescent State Bank as teller/bookkeeper from 1949 to 1954.

In 1949 Lenora was a princess in the First Apple Festival queen contest. She was reunited with the Queen and her Court at the 50th Apple Festival in 1998, riding in the parade in a float made to replicate their original float 49 years earlier. She also ran for Miss Peerless Beer. Decades later she was interviewed about her experience for publication in a magazine.

On October 5, 1950, she was joined in marriage to Robert A. Stoehr at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in La Crescent with Reverend E.G. Hertler officiating. She and Bob moved to Seattle in 1954. There she worked in the office at Frederick & Nelson Department Store. After 16 years of marriage, she and Bob welcomed their daughter, Kimberly Rae. Lenora took a break from full-time employment to be a mother. Later, when her daughter was in school, she returned to work at F&N, setting up payroll deductions for the United Way for their 15 stores in Washington and Oregon.

For many years she enjoyed bowling and was very proud to be a certified life member of the 600 bowling club. She loved to bowl, especially with her sister Virginia in the WIBC league. They bowled in Nationals together in both Las Vegas and Reno.

In 1986 Lenora and Bob returned to La Crescent to be close to their daughter, Kimberly. In 1989, Lenora was hired as Site Manager at Senior Dining in La Crescent---an experience she thoroughly enjoyed. She loved the diners and did her best to make each day fun and meaningful for all in attendance. Her other activities were past president of Ladies Aid at First Lutheran Church, La Crescent; Unit President of the American Legion Auxiliary, 1994-1995; member of the La Crescent Area Historical Society; and recent member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, South Ridge.

Bob passed away in July 2002. On April 17, 2004 Lenora married Jerome Jorstad. Through this union she was blessed with six more adult children and their families. And then there were seven. Together they enjoyed winters in Arizona, La Crescent HS Baseball games, euchre, Packers’ parties, and family gatherings. Jerome preceded her in death on April 26, 2016.

Lenora is survived by her daughter, Kimberly (Jim) Czechowicz; grandson, Dale (fiance’ Jennifer Ziegler); great grandchildren, Lillian and Noah Czechowicz, and their mother, Kim Holker; sister, Marjory Mickschl; her namesakes, Connie Lenora and Casey Lenora; and special niece and caregiver, Audrey Pease. She is further survived by 19 other nieces and nephews that have always been close to her heart; and her four closest friends, Betty Lahue, Sharon Lange, Sandy Jore, and Rachel Wacker. From her second marriage, she is survived by her six children: Joyce Ann (Sam) Johnson; Roger; Doug (Diane); Bryan; Bruce (Kathy); Jeff (Laura) Jorstad, and their families. In addition to her husbands and parents, she was preceded in death by four siblings: Mary, Bud, Francis and Virginia; nephew, Terry Beach; and niece Cheryl (Mickschl) James.

Above all, Lenora was a woman of faith. In her words, “Life is what we make it, with the help of God.”