- Date Of Birth: October 5, 1948
- Date Of Death: November 1, 2022
- State: Florida
Joseph David Lorenz passed away Tuesday, November 1st, 2022, at his home in Crestview, FL after a
five-year battle with multiple myeloma. His family was gathered together, and Judy, his beloved wife of 32years, comforted him as he passed from this life to the next.
Joe was born October 5th, 1948, to Herman & Helen (née Shemerdiak) Lorenz in McKees Rocks, PA,
the youngest of three children. He spent his early life in and around McKees Rocks and Pittsburgh, PA,
before moving to Florida in 1966 to pursue his education. He earned his BBA in Accounting from the
University of Miami in 1970 and completed his Juris Doctorate at the University of Florida College of Law in 1973.
Joe was a dedicated member of the legal profession in Okaloosa and Walton Counties for 48 years, and
was honored to practice alongside his former partners and dear friends, Greg Lungstrum and Jack
Heflin. Among many other involvments, he was instrumental in the formation of the Family Mediation
as contract attorney for the Northwest Florida State College Board of Trustees from 1978 to 2012. He
legal expertise through many local and regional entities, including the Okaloosa-Walton Legal Aid
Consortium Pro Bono Program.
his exceptional pro bono work in domestic cases, and was recently recognized for outstanding
Joe further served his community through participation with the Historical Society of Okaloosa and
Walton Counties, the Fort Walton Beach Jaycees, Child Guardian’s Inc., and Boy Scouts of America,
Troop 506, among others.
loved the youth of FWBFUMC and enjoyed volunteering as a parent leader. He often said he learned
more about Jesus from the young men in his group than they learned from him. He was a leader on
multiple out-of-state and local mission trips with the FWBFUMC youth group.
In February 1999 he made his Walk to Emmaus and was forever changed through a personal encounter
with the risen Christ. He was an active member of Beachside Emmaus/Chrysalis Community and Blue
Lake Emmaus/Chrysalis Community. He happily served as a speaker and as support staff and was
honored to be Lay Director of Chrysalis Flight #72 / Journey #21 and Blue Lake Emmaus Walk #223.
with friends and family. Other than his relationship with Christ, nothing gave him more joy than his
children, Chris, Kathryn, and Olivia. He was devoted to helping them make their best lives, and passed
from this place knowing he had done his job.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Helen, and his beloved sister Kathryn Lorenz
Serapiglia. He is survived by his wife Judy, his brother Bob (Joann), his stepson Chris (Kathey), his two
daughters Kathryn (Taylor) and Olivia, and his grandson, Sidney, along with several nieces, nephews,
cousins and other extended family in Pittsburgh.
Our family would like to extend our sincere thanks, appreciation, and love to the members of the
FWBFUMC congregation for their never-ending love, support, and prayers; to the devoted doctors and
staff of Emerald Coast Cancer Center for their excellent care and kindness; to Dr. Fritz Van Rhee and
staff at the Myeloma Clinic in the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer institute at University of Arkansas for
Medical Sciences for their consistent dedication to Joe and his health; and, finally, to John and Kym Lang
who loved and cared for Joe as much as we did.
providing affordable extended housing for UAMS patients.
