Lorraine (Kuhlmann) Eich of Houston Minn., passed away just three days shy of 81 years of age on January 27, surrounded by the love of her husband, children, grand-children and great-grand-children.
Lorraine was born on January 30, 1943, to Charlotte and Harold Kuhlmann (deceased) of Hokah Minn. She lived in Hokah with her parents and siblings Cora (Jim) Berg, Peter (Marilyn) Kuhlmann and Frank Kuhlmann (deceased), and went to St. Peter’s Catholic School through her sophomore year in high school. She attended Auburn High School in Washington for her junior year and then moved back to Minnesota and graduated from Blooming Prairie High School. After graduation, she attended St. Theresa’s College studying to be a nurse and worked one year as an LPN at St. Mary’s Hospital.
Lorraine changed course on December 1, 1962, when she married the love of her life, Dennis Eich. It was the start of an amazing journey of love and family that lasted over 61 years with six kids, 15 grandkids and seven great-grandkids (so far!), in 17 homes across 13 cities! Add in a few dogs and many cats and you can imagine the adventures she had!
When it came time to put all her kids through college she went back to school and earned an associate degree in accounting from Iowa Western Community College. She worked part-time until all the tuition was paid.
She loved spending time with her family more than anything and would want us to introduce her kids: Mark (Jodi) Eich, Tim (Gwen) Eich, Shari Andress, Stephanie (John) Witmer, Theresa and Eich, Bill (Amanda) Eich; grandkids Mollie (Neil) Erdahl, Sarah Eich, Emily (Nathan) Meyer, Mary Eich, Joe Eich, Melissa (Regis) Baskerville, De Anna (Rahsaan) Ephraim, Eric (Rachael) Andress, Daniel Andress, Heather Andress, Derek Witmer, Megan Witmer, Tyler Witmer, Anna Eich, Conor Eich and adopted grandkid Kyle Brown; great-grandkids Kade, Ila, Maci, Mariah, RJ, Myla and Amelia.
Every year for 20 plus years, she gathered all of us for an amazing week vacation at Cass Lake Lodge resort for some musky and walleye fishing! We were tasked with making sure we had enough walleye for a fish fry at the end of the week, but she always said that if we didn’t get enough she would just order pizza. We did not have pizza one time up at the lake!
Everyone who knew her would agree that Lorraine was one of the most kind, gentle, fun-loving and generous people they ever met. She will be missed so much by everyone who knew her, but we all take comfort in the fact that heaven has gained a beautiful angel.
Funeral services will take place on Thursday, February 1, 2024, at 11 a.m. at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Hokah, Minn. Eulogy will begin at 10:45 a.m. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers please feel free to make donations to St. Peter’s Catholic Church and School www.stpetershokah.org, or GiGi’s Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Centers www.gigisplayhouse.org.
Hoff Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.