Lane Doerring 1936 – 2023

Lane Doerring was born at home in Afton, IA on January 12, 1936, in the middle of the worst blizzard in Midwest history. He liked to point out proudly that the temperature did not reach zero until 36 days after his birth. When he was three, his family moved to Luana, Iowa, where his father’s large family (six brothers) were all living. There, during height of the Great Depression, his parents bought and managed a general store (Doerring IGA) while they were both teaching at the local school. Later, his father enlisted in the US Navy during World War II, which meant that great responsibility – and work ethic – were instilled in him at home at an early age. After the war ended, for years his family frequently made the lengthy drive from Iowa to Minnesota to fish – to Lake Vermillion and later to Lake Emily. Lane’s love of fishing, Northern Minnesota, birding, and the outdoors began on these visits, but really became his passion from when he was ten years old and his parents sold their store in Iowa and bought a resort on Upper Hay Lake in Pequot Lakes, Minnesota.
His passion for birding would take him all over the world, Africa, South America, the Middle East, Europe, the Pacific, and Asia.
He was a three sport letterwinner at Pequot Lake High School where his father was his coach, principal and teacher. He graduated in 1953 and went on to attend Concordia College where he graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1957. His compassion for other people less fortunate led him to a calling to serve in the church. He attended Luther Theological Seminary starting in the summer of 1957. His first call was to Morningside Lutheran Church in Sioux City, Iowa in 1959 where and met his first wife Sharin Ann Hill. They were married in 1960. In 1966 he accepted a call to Moshi, Tanzania to assist in the development and expansion of the American Luther Church in Africa. He along with his sister Jerene were instrumental in the founding and growth of the International School of Moshi and the school is still thriving today.
The family plus one returned to the United States in 1970 where he accepted a call to Hancock, MN. In 1976 with Northern Minnesota still calling, he accepted a call to serve in Menahga, MN where he would serve until 1989. In 1989 he accepted a call to serve a pair of rural churches in Rushford, MN electing again to serve congregations most in need. In 1995 while serving in Rushford his wife of 35 years and mother to all four of his children died from complications of breast cancer. After this he elected to return to Africa and served as a teacher in Kiomboi, Tanzania. On his summer return trip home in 1996 he attended his Pequot Lakes High School Reunion where he met Barb his second wife of 18 years.
Attending his grandkids athletic events became his summer and winter highlights and he became a hockey fan as a result. His beloved Minnesota Gophers, Vikings and Twins gave him reasons to celebrate and cry over the years but he rarely missed a game. One of his biggest highlights was the Minnesota winning two World Series wins something he talked about repeatedly.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Alvin Doerring and Lyria Doerring, sister Jerene, brother Tate, wife Sharin Doerring, and wife Barbara Doerring and stepdaughter Shelly West.
Surviving family members include daughter Beth Ann Doerring, son Kaj (Jodi) Doerring, son Lief (Aris) Doerring, son Kurt Doerring, grandson Blake Doerring, grandson Zach (Jenna) Doerring, granddaughter Grace Doerring, grandson Dmitri Doerring. Also stepchildren: Melissa (Don) Shields-Nordness, Mike (Kim) Shields, and Mitch (Carol) Shields, Tom West; step grandchildren: Adam Shields, Emma and Oliver Shields-Nordness, Charlie West, Spencer, Windom and John Shields, Ashley, Brianna and Blake Shields.
A memorial service will be held on November 20, 2023 at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, 301 County Road 19, Excelsior, MN 55331. Visitation at 10 a.m. and service at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Concordia College, Moorhead Minnesota or Mount Calvary Lutheran Church.
Arrangements are with Huber Funeral & Cremation Services Excelsior Chapel 952-474-9595. Online condolences can be left at huberfunerals.com,11-8pd