Walter L. Lorentsen

Walter L. Lorentsen, age 97, a resident of Belmont Village in Carol Stream, IL, passed away on Sunday, March 29, 2026. He was born on October 16, 1928, in Chicago, IL to Aksel & Marta Lorentsen.

Walter, known as Wally to his family and friends, was born in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood to Norwegian immigrant parents. The area was a magnet for Scandinavian immigrants at the time, and their life was built around church and the family at Hauge Norwegian Lutheran Church where Wally came to faith in Jesus at a young age. After graduating from Kelvyn Park high school in Chicago, Wally traveled far from the urban neighborhood he knew to Northfield MN to attend college at St. Olaf College and lived with his roommate and future brother-in-law, George Nelson. While at St. Olaf he competed on the track team, setting the school record for the mile, and developed a love of running leading him to entering and competing in over 10 marathons including multiple Chicago Marathons and the Boston Marathon. Following college and after traveling to Voss Norway to live with his mother’s sisters and help with their restaurant, Wally returned to the US and joined the US Air Force at the time of the Korean War and learned to fly. He loved the military and after active duty, he joined an Air National Guard squadron based at Milwaukee’s Mitchell Field, eventually retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.

He met his future wife Mary Varland after spotting her in the choir at Hauge Church after returning from Air Force duty. Mary was the sister of Martha Nelson who had previously married Wally’s college roommate George. Wally married Mary in 1957, and Wally was hired as an accountant at United Airlines. They moved to Wheaton Illinois where Mary had a job teaching at Wheaton Christian Grammar School. They started a family beginning with John in 1958 and built a house on Prairie Avenue in Wheaton where they welcomed 2 additional boys, James and Paul. They attended College Church in Wheaton where they were active members.

After retiring from United Airlines, Wally and Mary built a home in Three Lakes, Wisconsin near Honey Rock Camp where Mary had been a counselor in the year it opened. They spent most of their summers there and were actively involved in the Three Lakes Evangelical Free Church. Wally continued to travel visiting his many aunts, uncles, & cousins in Norway at least once, sometimes several times each year, as he could never get enough of Norway. He also loved to visit missionaries across the globe from College Church often offering to transport extra luggage and other travel duties using his lifetime United Airlines pass.

He moved out of his longtime home in Wheaton to Windsor Park in 2018 and then to Belmont Village in Wheaton in October 2025.

He loved life and lived it fully but even more, Wally looked forward to being with his Savior at the end of his time here on earth which came on Palm Sunday, 3/29/26. As his family, we will miss his zest for life, his love of people and conversation, and his beautiful prayers.

He is survived by his three sons: John (Deb) Lorentsen of Wheaton, James (Amy) Lorentsen of Wheaton & Paul (Kelli) Lorentsen of Phoenix; eight grandchildren: Matt, Marty (Jane), Jack, Addy, Zach, Joe (Maddie), Andy, and Erin; his great-grandchildren: Sage, Grace and Van. Also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins both in the United States and in Norway. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary and his sister Eleanor (the late Cecil) Bates.

A visitation will be held on Friday, April 17, 2026, at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St., Wheaton, IL 60187, from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. A memorial service will be held at College Church in Wheaton, 332 E. Seminary Ave., Wheaton, IL 60187, on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. A private burial will be held at Wheaton Cemetery in Wheaton, Illinois.

Memorial gifts may be directed to The Neighborhood Christian Clinic, 1929 W. Fillmore St., Building C, Phoenix, AZ 85009.

Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.