Lorene Bernice, daughter of George "Jerry" and Ida (Kai) Pfoltner, was born April 1, 1913, on the family farm in Crawford County, Iowa. She attended rural school and then graduated from Manning High School in 1931. Lorene took the Normal Training course while in high school and started teaching rural school following her graduation. During the summers she took courses in Denison to keep her teaching certificate current.

On September 26, 1942, Lorene was united in marriage with Earl Pfannkuch at Maryville, Missouri. She taught for one more year and then became a full time homemaker. She and Earl farmed southwest of Manning until 1978 when they moved into town. Lorene was an avid reader and loved animals. She also enjoyed shopping, traveling and caring for her flowers.
Lorene was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday school for many years and was a member of the Ladies Aid. She was a member of the Hospital Auxiliary and enjoyed baking for the Snack Bar.

Lorene's health began to fail in 1996 and her husband and sister Phyllis cared for her at home for three years before she entered the Manning Plaza Nursing Home in 2001. She died on Friday, February 22, 2002, at Manning Regional Healthcare Center, at the age of 88 years 10 months and 21 days.

Preceding Lorene in death are her parents; infant brother Henry; brother Harold Pfoltner and wife Erika; and brother-in-law Merrill Callender.
She is survived by husband Earl Pfannkuch of Manning; sister Phyllis Callender of Manning; two nephews Jerry Callender and wife Donna of Omaha, Nebraska and Patrick Callender and wife Julie of Littleton, Colorado; two nieces Deborah and husband John Hendry of Lincoln, Nebraska and Iris and husband Steve Neukirch of Lincoln, Nebraska; other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, February 26, 2002, at the Zion Lutheran Church in Manning, Iowa. Pastor Daniel Vogel officiated the service and graveside rites held at the Manning Cemetery in Manning, Iowa. Fern Jensen served as organist accompaniment for congregational hymns "Amazing Grace", "What A Friend We Have In Jesus" and "God Be With You." Those serving as casketbearers were Jerry Callender, Tom Callender, Andrew Neukirch, Pat Callender, Aaron Hendry and Ryan Pfannkuch. The family invited everyone in attendance of the service to join them for fellowship and lunch back at the church after the committal service. The Ohde Funeral Home in Manning was in charge of the arrangements.