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Vicki Ann Blatchford, 71, of Storm Lake passed away Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, after an intense but brief battle with an acute illness at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.
A celebration of life visitation with family present will be held from 5-8 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 17, at Goslar Funeral Home Chapel, Onawa, with prayers and sharing memories at 7 p.m. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 22, at Onawa United Methodist Church, with Pastor Catie Newman and Darren C. E. Goslar officiating. A live stream of the service will be posted on the Goslar Funeral Home website with Vicki’s obituary. A luncheon will be held at the church immediately following the funeral service. Burial will follow the luncheon in Mount Hope Cemetery, Battle Creek.
Vicki was born Aug. 17, 1954, in Onawa, to Roger and Nancy Blatchford and the oldest child of seven and baptized at United Methodist Church. Vicki was extremely proud of where she lived in western Iowa and especially proud of her mom and dad. She was a graduate of West Monona High School where she participated in band, choir and softball. She loved her high school years and served as a lifeguard at the Onawa pool. She also taught swimming lessons well into her adult years and always had a love for the water. Her love for the water throughout her life led to island vacations and daily boating life as she lived on the shores of Storm Lake prior to her passing. Known as a bit of a free spirit and rebellious child, Vicki enjoyed her teenage years as a 60s child while pushing boundaries through short skirts and women’s liberation movements which opened the doors for her siblings to follow. She also introduced rock and roll into the family’s life, sometimes against the wishes of her parents.
Like her mother, Vicki had a passion for entertaining and was an excellent cook. At the request of family and friends, Vicki would bring her infamous potato salad to every gathering, although she refused to share the recipe with anyone. As was her nature, she never settled on a single career path. Right out of high school she worked at the grain exchange in Sioux City. Later she went on to run a hog operation on the family farm which she was very proud of, owned and operated the Onawa Meat Locker, worked at the Monona County Recycling Center, worked as an Emergency Medical Technician and then worked at the Mapleton Casey’s. Because she was always on the move and lacked the capacity to stand idle, she moonlighted as a bartender and took on catering events throughout her life.
Her family life was as colorful as her career choices, with three marriages before settling into a long-term relationship. Vicki’s first marriage to Dale Johnson of Soldier yielded three boys: Michael, Christopher and Corey Johnson. Her second marriage to Dan Peterson of Turin resulted in her daughter, Briana Peterson. She married one more time to Mark Nelson of Anthon.
Later in life, she finally settled down with Dan Lorenzen of Storm Lake. They lived together for the last 20 years of her life and enjoyed life on the lake while working on Dan’s family farm and celebrating all of life’s moments together.
Vicki always enjoyed her blended family and was extremely proud of all her children, stepchildren and grandkids. She always supported the family through their endeavors, especially sports events which she would attend and enjoy. They will fondly remember all her gatherings, celebrations, cooking, laughter and unconditional love.
Vicki is survived by her father Roger Blatchford of Onawa; partner, Dan Lorenzen of Storm Lake; four children: Mike (Jackie) Johnson of Onawa; Chris (Jamie) Johnson of Rolla, Mo.; Corey Johnson of Onawa; and Briana Peterson of Sioux City; Dan’s children: Dana (Tom) Grafft of Storm Lake; Toya (Tyler) Farrell of South Sioux City, Neb.; and Cody (Danielle Corbin) Lorenzen of Battle Creek; 20 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; five siblings: Jeff (Maggie) Blatchford of Onawa; Tim (Janice) Blatchford of Onawa; Pam (Ken) Fangohr of Lawrence, Kan.; Tom (Martha) Blatchford of Owensville, Mo.; and Lori (Mike) Russell of Mocksville, N.C.; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her mother Nancy Blatchford; sister Carla Blatchford; nephew Tony Blatchford; Dan’s daughter, Mindy Jensen; and their beloved dog, Sage.
Condolences may be left online for the family at www.goslarfuneralhome.com.
