• Henry “Hank” Lurz, born in Valentine, Nebraska, was the son of Henry Lurz and Frances Ward Lurz. Nebraska remained an important part of Hank’s identity throughout his life, even as his journey took him far from the place where it began.
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• Hank graduated from Valentine Rural High School and went on to build a long and dedicated career, working for Nucor Steel Nebraska for 25 years. His life eventually brought him to the East Coast, where he lived in Greensboro, Maryland, before moving to Middletown, Delaware.
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• Hank was a father to, Matt, Danielle, and a stepfather to Emilie, Jennifer and Andrew. He was also a grandfather to seven grandchildren, a step-grandfather to three, and a great-grandfather to three.
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• Hank was the kind of person who showed up. He was there for the personal milestones and important moments in the lives of those he loved. He made a point of being present for birthdays, celebrations, and the moments that mattered, creating memories his family will carry with them.
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• He had a gift for storytelling and loved telling stories about Nebraska, his childhood growing up on a farm, and the life he remembered there. His stories gave his family a glimpse into the boy and young man he had once been and kept his Nebraska roots alive for the generations that followed.
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• Hank was a proud Nebraska Cornhusker fan, carrying his love for Nebraska and its traditions with him wherever life took him. No matter how far away he lived, Nebraska—and especially the Huskers—remained close to his heart.
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• Hank also had a deep love for Miniature Schnauzers. The dogs he raised and bred were not simply pets or a hobby; they were part of his family. He cared for them deeply and took great pride in them, giving them a special place in his life and his heart. His love for his dogs was another reflection of the way Hank cared deeply for the people and things that mattered most to him.
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• Hank was also a passionate antique collector and seller. His love of antiques became a shared adventure with his wife, Mimi. Together, Hank and Mimi traveled across the country attending antique shows, buying and selling pieces, meeting people, and creating memories along the way. Their travels became an important part of their life together, combining Hank’s love of history and antiques with the joy of experiencing the country side by side.
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• And Hank certainly had a sweet tooth. He enjoyed the simple pleasures in life, and his family will undoubtedly remember his love of something sweet as one of those little details that made him uniquely Hank.
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• During the final two years of his life, Hank faced the difficult reality of pulmonary fibrosis. As his illness progressed, his longing for Nebraska grew stronger. He wanted to return to the place where his life had begun and continue his life there. Ultimately, Hank made the difficult decision to leave Delaware and return to Nebraska.
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• His return home was bittersweet. It meant leaving behind his wife, Mimi, his stepdaughters, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, but it also allowed him to return to the Nebraska that had always remained a part of him.
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• Hank was preceded in death by his parents, Henry Lurz and Frances Ward Lurz; his brothers, James and Richard; his sisters, Norma and Clara; and his great-granddaughter, Madalynn.
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• Hank’s life spanned generations and states, from his beginnings in Valentine to his years in Nebraska, Maryland, and Delaware, and finally back to the state he had always considered home. His story was shaped by the work he devoted himself to, the family he loved, the stories he shared, the dogs who were part of his family, the antiques and adventures he shared with Mimi, and the Nebraska roots he carried with him throughout his life.
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• He will be remembered by his children, Matt, Danielle; his stepdaughters, Emilie and Jennifer; his seven grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren; as well as extended family and all those whose lives he touched throughout his journey.
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• Though his path took him many miles from Valentine, Nebraska, Hank ultimately found his way home.
  
  

Graveside service for Henry W. Lurz are pending at this time at Sandoz Chapel of the Pines. Mr. Lurz passed away on August 6, 2026, at the Sandhills Care Center in Ainsworth.