Noreen Dee Jantze was born Jan. 10, 1965, in Crete, to Allen Sr. and Maxine (Synder) Hormandl, the first of two children. She went to be with her Lord Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021, at Bryan East Medical Center in Lincoln, after a decades-long battle fought bravely against various illnesses. At the time of her death, Noreen was 56 years old and a 2½-year breast cancer survivor.
Noreen was a 1984 graduate of Milford High School and soon was united in marriage to Martin D. Jantze on June 5, 1984. To this union, three daughters, Ashley M., Amanda L. and Kimberly R. Jantze were born. Noreen was employed as a cook at Sunrise Country Manor until she left work in 1985 to stay home to raise her girls. When her youngest daughter started kindergarten, Noreen worked early hours as a baker for Jantze’s Milford Supermarket so that she could be home in the afternoons. Afterword, she spent many years working with her family at the Milford Supermarket in various capacities and management. She returned to Sunrise Country Manor as cook and later Crestview Nursing Home until her cancer diagnosis in 2019. Noreen loved doing puzzles, playing cards and boardgames, scrapbooking, sowing, singing along to the radio and writing poetry. She had a great fondness of horses and animals in general, particularly her many dogs and cats she cared for over the years. Noreen was also active with her daughters in 4-H and was a member of the Milford United Methodist Church. Her greatest joy in life was being a wife, mother and nana to her godchildren. She was an amazing wife and mother who always put the needs of her family before her own.
Noreen is survived by her husband, Martin; daughters, Ashley, Amanda and Kimberly, all of Milford; father, Allen Hormandl Sr., Wilber; sister, Lori Ann and Bruce Pomajzl, Crete; brother, Allen Jr. and Brooke Hormandl, Wilber; step-siblings, Curtis and Gail Zach, Wilber, Chere and RA Jones, Lincoln, Jane and Mark Crawford, DeWitt; father-in-law, Maurice D. Jantze; brother-in-law and sisters-in-law, Vickie and Myron Reiss, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Christy and Arlin Scherbarth, Gordon, Maurice “Butch” and Nancy Jantze, Milford; foster father, Larry TeSelle, Milford; foster siblings, Gary and Charlene TeSelle, Milford, Teresa TeSelle, Milford, Nichelle “Nikki” and Tony LaPointe, Lincoln, Kirk Boettcher, Lincoln; godchildren, Boen, Tobias, Keenan and Araiya Schweitzer and their parents, Dan and Jessie Schweitzer, all of Beaver Crossing; many nephews and nieces, and a host of other relatives and friends, many of whom called her “Mama.”
Noreen was preceded in death by her mother, Maxine (Synder) Walrod; stepmother, Margaret “Peggy” Hormandl; mother-in-law, Alberta “Snooks” Jantze; foster mother, Beverly TeSelle; and foster brother, Kenneth TeSelle.
Noreen will always be remembered for her loving heart as well as all the care and support she provided to the many individuals that reached out to her. She was an incredible blessing to all those who knew her. She will be forever missed but her legacy will live on in all those who loved her. This isn’t goodbye, but see you again soon.
A celebration of her life will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 2, at the Milford United Methodist Church. Visitation is Friday, Oct. 1, from 1 to 8 p.m. with family receiving relatives and friends from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lauber Funeral and Cremation Service, Milford. Memorial contributions are suggested to the family for future designation. Condolences may be left online for the family online at www.lauberfh.com.
