Lorna Wiens

Lorna Wiens, age 72, of Staples, passed away Monday, January 2, 2017, at St. Cloud Hospital. The funeral service will be Saturday, January 7, at 1 PM, at Faith Lutheran Church in Staples. Visitation will be Friday, January 6, from 5-7:00 PM at Brenny Funeral Chapel in Staples, and will continue at the church on Saturday during the hour before the service. Inurnment will be at Faith Lutheran Church Columbarium, in the spring.

Lorna Mae Wiens was born January 5, 1944 in Mountain Lake, MN, to Abram and Sara (Wiebe) Nickel. She grew up and went to school in Mountain Lake, graduating from high school there in 1962. She attended Grace Bible College for a year, and then attended Mounds Midway School of Nursing in St. Paul. She completed her undergraduate nursing education at the University of Minnesota, earning her Bachelor of Science degree and taking state nursing boards in 1967. She was united in marriage to Mel Wiens on June 8, 1968 in Delft, MN. The couple lived in the Seward neighborhood of south Minneapolis. Lorna began working toward her Master’s Degree, and taught at Mounds Midway School of Nursing. The family moved to Staples in 1971, where Lorna worked at the Mary Rondorf Home. She completed her Master’s Degree in Vocational Education at Bemidji State University during the late 1970’s, and worked as Director of Nursing at the nursing home. During the 1970’s and early 1980’s Lorna was involved with the school’s health education program, served as School Nurse, and as a stay-at-home mom. In the 1980’s she started the education department at the hospital. During the late 1980’s and early 1990’s she worked at the Staples Vocational College. She co-owned and operated a quilting shop from approximately 1992-1994. She worked for the University of Minnesota, with the Minnesota Department of Health, until her retirement in 2007. Lorna enjoyed quilting and traveling. Very much a family person, she also enjoyed cooking and baking.

Lorna is survived by her husband, Mel, of Staples; her sons, Royce (Volatiana) Wiens, of St. Paul and Curt (Julie) Wiens, of Woodbury; three grandchildren, Anna, Abram, and Isaac; a sister, LaVera (Gary) Fenton, of Colorado Springs, CO; and other family members. Her parents, Abram and Sara Nickel, and an infant sister, Marian, preceded her in death. Arrangements entrusted to Brenny Funeral Chapel of Staples.