Lorna S. Will, age 94, died on January 20, 2025. She was born on September 25, 1930 in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, to Ralph and Lorraine Smithyman.  Lorna grew up on her father's dairy farm with her older brother Robert and younger sister Mary.  She attended a one-room school, the Lisbon Plank School, before attending Pewaukee High School.  Lorna graduated a year early due to skipping 6th grade, but still professed to be amazed that she merited entrance to the University of Wisconsin.

Attending the University from 1947-1951, she majored in Hospital Dietetics, was a member of the Delta Zeta sorority, and was elected to the Omicron Nu and Phi Upsilon Omicron professional societies.  She was also named a 'Badger Beauty' in 1951.  From 1951-1952, she carried out a dietetic internship at the U. S. Public Health Hospital in Staten Island, NY, subsequently working at the University Hospitals in Madison. In early 1953, she met a young man whom her mother had met at a neighbor's house and invited for dinner: Jim Will.  After a rapid courtship, they married in June, 1953.

Later that year they moved to Fort Riley, Kansas so that Jim could fulfill his Army obligation.  During those two years, they had two daughters: Lorna Ruth and Leslie Anne.  After the Army, Jim enrolled at Veterinary school at Kansas State University in nearby Manhattan, and during those years they also had a son, James Jr.

When Jim bought a veterinary practice in Columbus, Wisconsin, Lorna worked hard to make their 1896 house a home, refinishing woodwork, hanging wallpaper, and planting a garden.  They lived there until 1972, when the family moved to England for Jim's sabbatical year.  They bought a new home when they returned in 1973, and lived there for the next 45 years, until they built their retirement home on Hibbard Street.

In addition to working as a dietitian at St. Mary's Hospital, the Wyocena Home, and various other hospitals and nursing homes, Lorna was very active in the community.  She was active in the Columbus United Methodist church, teaching Sunday school, holding many offices in the United Methodist Women, and making many dinners for the Kiwanis club.  She was a Girl Scout leader and for many years was a member of the Columbus Public Library board, being honored for her contributions to this group in 2014.  She was the first president of the Columbus Literacy Council and trained as a literacy tutor.  She served on the Police and Fire Commission.  She helped to start the Columbus-Fall River Food Pantry, and served as the first secretary of the Columbia County Salvation Army unit.  But perhaps her greatest influence came about in her helping to establish the Columbus Club House, where school children could receive after school care.  She carefully made each child a birthday cake for many years.

Lorna loved her two grandchildren, Lindsay and Andrew Kuo, who spent many happy times in Columbus. She also treasured getting to know her great-grandson, James Klemperer.

She is survived by her daughters, Lorna Will and Leslie Kuo, her son, James Will Jr., her grandchildren Lindsay Kuo (Daniel Klemperer) and Andrew Kuo (Maggie), great-grandsons James Klemperer and Emerson Kuo, and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews.  She was preceded in death by her brother, Robert Smithyman; her sister, Mary Smithyman Mink; her brother-in-law John Will, and recently preceded in death by her husband Jim.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.  Memorials may be made to the Columbus United Methodist Church, the Columbus Club House, or the University of Wisconsin Foundation.

We encourage you to share your online condolences with Lorna's family at jensenfuneralandcremation.com

A memorial service will be held at a later date. Online condolences can be shared with Lorna's family at jensenfuneralandcremation.com.