Florence Natzke

On January 9, 2025, with her husband by her side, holding her hand, and singing her into heaven, our Heavenly Father wrapped Florence (Flo) Irene Natzke in His loving embrace and called her home.

In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may also be. John 14: 3-4

Flo was born on September 27, 1939, to Berthold and Ella (Ohlmann) Gruhn in Poole, Nebraska, and was baptized into the Christian faith on the 6th of October. She attended country school in Nebraska and Iowa and confirmed her faith on the 29th of March 1953 in Hampton, Iowa. She started her high school years in Buffalo Center, Iowa, and graduated from Ravenna High School in Ravenna, Nebraska. Flo married LaVerne Barnes in 1958, and three sons came from this union: Dale Barnes, Kerry (Cherese) Barnes, and Roy Barnes. Being a mom to these boys brought Flo great joy.

Widowed at a young age, Flo went to work for Rich Bringleman Insurance in Nebraska before being encouraged through pastoral care to move to Wisconsin to attend the Lay Ministry program at Concordia College in Milwaukee. While studying there, she worked with Royal Natzke, Tim Maschke and John Baubel as a secretary. God gave Flo a second chance at love when she met fellow lay ministry student Bob Natzke; they were married by Pastor Maschke in December of 1986. Side by side, the couple served at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fairfield, California, at Concordia Lutheran Church in Miami, Florida, and at Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Green Bay, Wisconsin, he as a parish administrator and she as a church secretary.

After ministering in the churches, Bob and Flo were called to extend God’s kingdom through the Laborers for Christ building program, serving numerous congregations, supporting their outreach, and helping to energize the people wherever they went. Flo had the kindest of servant hearts and thrived on being Bob’s right hand in all of their projects; together was their favorite place to be. She enjoyed worshiping in church, singing in the choir, being a part of the Ladies Aid, attending Bible study, visiting shut-ins, knitting, tending her flowers, playing cards, volunteering at Bethesda Resale, belonging to the Red Hat Society, and visiting with family and friends. She also loved cheering on her Nebraska Cornhuskers in football and volleyball, especially when they played the Wisconsin Badgers. The family extends profound gratitude to the compassionate caregivers at Unity Hospice as well as to the Zion Lutheran church family, pastors, and community friends for their expressions of comfort and acts of kindness and love during this bittersweet time.

Flo is survived by her husband, Bob Natzke, his seven siblings and their spouses, her brother Virgil, their blended family of seven adult children, and their twelve grandchildren: Christopher (Alexis), Kasey, Kayle (Alex) and Cody (Kayla) Barnes, Kristin and Kyle Natzke, Danielle DeTennis, Kaitlyn (Gary) Adams, Jacob (Victoria) and Joshua (Ariana) Gruener, Tanner (Callie) Natzke and Taylor (Brock) Hilton, along with five great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by LaVerne Barnes, her parents, three siblings, Lavonne, Lois, and Roger, Bob’s parents, and Bob’s youngest son, Mark Natzke.

Funeral Services were held at Zion Lutheran Church in Wayside, Wisconsin on January 18, 2025.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington with family receiving guests from 5-7 p.m.

Memorial Services will be held on Thursday, January 23, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Lexington with Pastor Rob Kuefner, officiating.

Graveside Services will be held on Thursday, January 23, 2025, at 12:30 p.m. at Greenwood Cemetery in Lexington.

Memorial donations can be made to Orphan Grain Train in Norfolk, Nebraska, to Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch of Minot, North Dakota, or to the charity of your choice.

Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is honored to be assisting the family with arrangements. Please share online condolences with the family by visiting: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com