Obituary: Lorene J. Kamps

Jan. 23, 1923 - Nov. 19, 2011

Lorene Julia Kamps, 88, formerly, Lorene Sutton of Fallon lost her battle with Alzheimer’s in 2011. Lorene had been residing at Shawnee Gardens Nursing Home in Shawnee, KS since 2004. Lorene had retired in 1996 and moved to Kansas City from Galveston, TX where she had worked as the Sommelier for Gaido’s Restaurant. KC is the home of her daughter, Kathy Jenkins and four grandchildren.

Lorene was born in Fallon, NV to parents, Lewis & AdaBelle Sutton. Lorene graduated from Churchill County High School in 1940 and quickly joined the workforce. She wanted to do more with her community and discover her passion in life, which was the American Red Cross. She was working at NAS Fallon in 1944 as the secretary for the Red Cross where she met her husband, LCDR Harold Kamps. Lorene was presented with many awards for her meritorious personal service during her years with the Red Cross. Lorene was never one to sit around and was always finding ways to give and help where she was needed. She was always active in the Episcopal Church wherever she was living. Lorene’s last challenge was a desire to study the wines of the world and earned the title of Sommelier. She also maintained the title of Vice Conseiller Order Mondial due to her active involvement with the Chaine des Rotisseurs. Lorene always remained devoted to the Red Cross but the disease cut her ability to continue work and volunteering short.

Lorene was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Kamps, LCDR; parents, Lewis H. & AdaBelle Sutton; brother, Lewis E. Sutton; brother, Hugh Albert “Tip” Underhill; sister, Muriel I. Waring. She is survived by her brother, Kerry “Skip” Sutton, NM; sister, Alice Edwards, HI; sister, Elizabeth Bell Woodliff, NV; daughter, Kathleen Jenkins, (Richard), KS; daughter, Susan Kamps-Barr, (Bryon), CO; grandchildren, Jennifer Brown, (Edward), TN; Jeffrey Jenkins, (Erica), KS; John Jenkins, (Ashley), KS; Joseph Jenkins, KS. & several great grandchildren.

A celebration of Lorene’s Amazing life has now been scheduled for Wednesday, May 8th, 2 p.m. at the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Fallon. Services officiated by Reverend Trudy Erquiaga. Lorene’s ashes will be interred at the Churchill County Cemetery in Fallon following the service. There will also be dedication prayers for the new headstones that are being placed for Lorene’s husband, Hal Kamps along with Hal’s parents, Gerald & Florence Kamps. The Navy Chaplain to also officiating at the Cemetery.

We welcome all who might have known Lorene or the family to the celebration. We are elated to finally bring Lorene’s ashes home to Fallon.

Any questions may be directed to Lorene’s daughter Sue at: 303-933-1558, Littleton, CO.

Email: mamatorch@comcast.net