Claudia Lorenger

Claudia Lorenger, age 73, of the Horton Bay General Store in Horton Bay, died on December 13, 2011 in California. Claudia was born on April 10, 1938 in Hollywood, CA at the Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital. She spent her childhood and youth in the Las Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles where she graduated from High School. After high school, Claudia entered the famous "school of hard knocks" which made her the person we knew and respected in Horton Bay when we walked in the General Store. In 1989 Claudia lived next door to the Lorenger's in Cave Creek, AZ. They became good neighbors and friends and the Lorenger's apparently saw someone they thought they should introduce to their son John "Chip" Lorenger when he visited from Michigan! The next time Chip came the introductions were promptly made by the elder Lorengers. Chip and Claudia hit it off! Chip would work as a registered nurse in the winters in Arizona and needed to rent a room. Claudia had a room and it was rented to Chip with never a regret. Claudia and Chip had opposite schedules, with her working as the night manager at The Boulders and Chip working during the day in local health care. Claudia was a hard working woman, who worked her way up from a hostess at The Boulders in Cave Creek to becoming the Assistant Manager. No small accomplishment here! During Claudia's tenure there the resort was rated as the #1 hideaway resort in the United States and the fifth best in the world. Chip (knowing a good thing when he saw one) started leaving Claudia little notes when he went to work. Finally the ships that were passing in the night came into port at the same time and the rest is history. Chip said it best at Claudia's funeral mass in Arizona when he said "they were soul mates". To all of those that knew them as a couple it was obvious. In 1990 Claudia started coming back to Boyne City with Chip where he owned and operated J.D.'s on Lake Street. That year they started transforming J.D.'s together into a well known deli and catering business in the Boyne area. Claudia's knowledge and love of cooking was well used. She was a genuine people person who wanted their clients pleased when the event was over. The same food was never served in a summer at different parties! She made everyone's unique and special. During the 1990's the store was recognized as the "Best Deli In The North" through a vote of the people and was the busiest caterer in Charlevoix County. In 1999 Claudia and Chip bought the Horton Bay General Store. Another transformation began! The famous General Store was in very poor repair. Claudia and Chip started on their labor of love, ripping out walls, plaster lathe, and dry walling and painting with some help from friends. But the majority of the finished product is theirs. The upstairs became their home. Claudia's love of antiques is obvious there and in the General Store. They ran both stores until selling J.D.'s. After taking her time to be sure Chip was really the man he appeared to be, they were married on Feb. 3, 2001 in Cave Creek, Arizona where they spend winters. It was a good marriage. Claudia enjoyed traveling. Before Chip, she was well traveled and with him she went to Australia and New Zealand. They would sail together when they had the chance. The couple made 41 cross country trips between Michigan and Arizona, Arizona and Michigan in their 23 years together, always taking the time to take in some new sight. In the winter they hiked and camped together in the Arizona desert. They owned property in Goodhart that she loved and the couple had looked forward to building their retirement home there. After a long day at the General Store Claudia enjoyed setting on the bench on the dock on Lake Charlevoix's Horton Bay. Chip and Claudia were members of the Good Shepherd Catholic Mission Church in New River, AZ. With Horton Bay being a seven day week labor of love their spiritual life was at Good Shepherd in the winter. Claudia was an accomplished classical and acoustical guitarist. She loved her grandchildren and nieces and nephews. After Claudia was diagnosed with the cancer that would take her life, Chip was his wife's constant caregiver, putting her health, comfort and needs above all else, until her death. All father's should be so lucky to have such a son-in-law. She is survived by Chip, her daughters, grandchildren and loving Michigan family. Services were held in Arizona and California with burial at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Los Angeles. A gathering of her Michigan family and friends to remember Claudia and support Chip will be held at her beloved Horton Bay General Store in metropolitan downtown Horton Bay on Sunday, May 27, from 3PM-7PM. Light fare, good memories and that genuine friendship we find here in the north will be the order of the day. Please stop at the store during those times. Chip would like you to remember Claudia with a donation to the Hospice of Little Traverse Bay, One Hiland Drive, Petoskey, MI 49770. Donations can be made on line at www.hospiceltb.org . PLEASE bring along a simple note with a memory of Claudia to leave at the store. A basket will be available to place them in.