Lorene Laake Pinnell's Obituary
Lorene Laake Pinnell passed away peacefully at the age of 89 on June 30, 2017 at her home in Dallas, Texas. Lorene was born March 30, 1928, in Paige, Texas. She was the youngest daughter, one of 13 children born to Anton and Ella Laake. They were of German descent, hard-working share-croppers. Her family farmed with mules and made everything by hand. Life was simple back then, filled with long days of work on the farm, but also filled with lots of good times with family and friends. Lorene was a good student and loved school. She graduated from Giddings High School at the age of 16. She moved to Dallas and lived with her older sister. She went to business school for a time, but then got a job as a file clerk for Oil Well Supply, a subsidiary of US Steel. In 1948, she transferred to their Houston office and it was there that she met her future husband, a young auditor named Charlie Pinnell. They married on March 31, 1951. Their first daughter, Sharon, was born in Austin. The Pinnell’s settled in Dallas then and stayed there until 1953, when Charlie was transferred to Calgary, Canada. Lorene got a job there for a time working at Robin Hood Flour, but soon she was busy with two more children, Eddie and Charlene. Another transfer for Charlie meant relocation to New York City in 1959. Lorene stayed home with their three children. Their time in New York was short-lived, as they got transferred back to Dallas the following year. They settled in the L streets neighborhood where Lorene lived for 56 years. Jackie, their fourth child was born in 1962. Charlie continued to work for Oil Well Supply, eventually retiring in 1989. Lorene and Charlie were both active in their children’s lives. In addition to raising her children, Lorene worked as a secretary at Financial Programs, Sherwin Williams, and RD Eiseman Jewelers. She also had a home daycare for a time. Lorene was raised in the Lutheran church and Charlie in the Baptist church, but they chose to raise their children in Northminster Presbyterian Church, now part of Lake Highlands Presbyterian Church. Lorene taught Sunday school and was active in the Women’s Circle. Charlie became the treasurer, a post he held for 39 years. When Lorene was in her 60’s, she wrote a 200page book chronicling her life. Here is a quote that Lorene wrote in the section after her mother’s death: “There are times of sadness in our lives, and these are inevitable. If along the way we take a few moments now and then to thank God for those who are living and show our appreciation and love for them, it will soften the sting that their death might bring us.” Lorene experienced tragedy and heartache in her life, but she remained cheerful and steadfast in her love for God and for her family. Lorene is survived by her children Sharon and Eddie of Dallas, Charlene and her husband Bruce of Austin; grandsons Alfred McCaleb of Dallas, Andrew Morrison of Austin, Evan Morrison of Austin and great granddaughter Bailey McCaleb; sister-in-law Inez Laake of Bastrop, many nieces and nephews and their children and grandchildren; and her cat of 14 years, Fluffy. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Jacqueline Pinnell McCaleb on April 30 ,1984 and her husband of 51 years, Charles Homer Pinnell on January 22, 2002. She was also preceded in death by her parents Anton and Ella, her brothers and their wives Emil and Amanda, Alfred and Lydia, Tony and Doris, and Leo and Helen Laake, brothers Erwin and Adolf, and her sisters and their husbands Lydia and Leonard Kastner, Leona and Paul Saegert, Amanda and Allen Watson, Lillian and Anton Koyck, Elnora and Maston Goerner and Joan Laake. The family would like to thank the staff and caregivers at Baylor, Scott & White-White Rock and C.C.Young Rehabilitation center for their excellent care. A special thanks is extended to Aqua Umoren and his caregivers from Holding Hands Hospice for their loving comfort, care and support of Lorene and family. The family will receive friends from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Saturday, July 15, 2017, at the Restland Funeral Home in Dallas. Burial with brief graveside service following at noon at Restland. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, July 15, 2017, at Lake Highlands Presbyterian Church, in Dallas, with Rev. Dr. Perryn Rice officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lake Highlands Presbyterian Church or a charity of your choice. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Restland Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 13005 Greenville Avenue, at Restland Road, Dallas, TX 75243.
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