Melf Lorenzen

Melf Uwe Lorenzen, 84, of Doylestown, died Friday, October 5, 2018 at Doylestown Windsor House.

Friends may call Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. at Roberts Funeral Home-Sherwood Chapel, Wooster. Funeral services will be Monday at 11 a.m. at the Smithville United Methodist Church with Pastor Carolyn Berry officiating. Burial will be at Sherwood Memorial Gardens, where military rites will be held. Online tributes may be made at www.RobertsFuneralHome.com. Memorial contributions may be made to Smithville United Methodist Church, 243 N. Milton St., Smithville, Ohio 44677.

Melf was born April 22, 1934 in Bredstedt, Germany to Ingwer and Else Lorenzen.

He graduated from Smithville High School in 1951 as an exchange student. He then graduated with an Agricultural Degree from the Agricultural Technicial College in Bredstedt, Germany with Honors. He served in the US Army 19thInfantry, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. After serving he joined the Army reserve and then the Triple Nickel Honors detachment.

He married Elfriede Boock on March 15, 1957 at the Smithville United Methodist Church.

Melf worked for 38 years and became General Manager of Louisiana Pacific where he was responsible for two divisions that employed 1600 people.  In 1985 he was presented with the Louisiana Pacific’s Man of the Year Award.  He was member of the Louisiana Pacific Operating Policy Board for 25 years, Great Northern Savings board member, and Trustee and President of the Barberton Chamber of Commerce as well as Chairman of the Board of Barberton Citizens Hospital. He was director and member of the Executive Committee of the State of Ohio Chamber of Commerce.

Melf was an active member of the Smithville United Methodist Church for 62 years.  Melf served as Finance Chair, Board Member and Chairman of the Pastor Relation Committee for the church.  He also started a scholarship and endowment program.  Melf was President and Treasurer of the Smithville Volunteer Fire Department, and President and Finance Chairman of the Smithville Ruritan Club.  He previously served as the Chairman of the United Way for Barberton, President and Executive Director of Budget and Finance Committee of the National Wood Window and Door Association.

Melf and Elfriede loved to travel as they covered 83 countries and 48 of the 50 United States. Along the way they met Ronald Reagan, George Bush Sr., Gerald Ford, and Mikhail Gorbachev.  Melf enjoyed golf, time with family and teaching his grandchildren to water ski at Apple Valley Lake.

Melf will be deeply missed by his wife, Elfriede; children Stewart (Lisa) of Massillon, Richard (Diane) of Doylestown, and Marnita (John Armbrust) of Doylestown; grandchildren Kailee (Philip), Chelsea (Marc), Amanda (Ben), Tyler, Kiersten (Scott), Alex, Edward (Sarah), Kenna (Dan), Kamryn, Zachary, Paige; great-granddaughter Adeline.

Melf was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers.

The family thanks Doylestown Windsor House for their care and support