Paul M. "Mickey" Lanz

Paul Michael Lanz was born on April 27, 1938 in Ainsworth, NE. He was the son of Paul and Bessie (Hughes) Lanz. Paul’s daddy gave him the nickname, “Mickey” after Mickey Cochran, a great baseball catcher for Detroit at that time. It stuck and everyone knew him as “Mickey”.
When Mickey was three, he spiked a very high fever which affected his speech and balance. He attended K-8 at School District #10. His kindergarten year, Mickey and sister Shirley were the only students so the teacher Mary Lou Lemon taught them in their home. Mickey attended high school at Rock County High. He boarded in town during the week and came home to the ranch on the weekends. Mickey graduated in the Class of 1958. He enjoyed school but was glad to be done so he could help more on the ranch.
Mickey ranched in Rock County on the original Lanz Homestead his entire life. The ranch celebrated 100 years of ownership by the same family in 1989. He liked everything on the ranch to be tidy and had a place for everything. Mickey deemed it a privilege and a duty to protect and cherish the place that holds many precious memories. Branding day was one of Mickey’s favorite days. He liked to brand on his birthday and spend time with his friends and family working and visiting after. The Lanz Ranch is located in the heart of Fish Lake Valley. While living on the ranch Mickey never missed a Monday morning coffee with the Fish Lake neighbors. When Mickey’s dad passed away it was said “Fish Lake Valley will never be the same.” That comment is true for Mickey as well.
Mickey adjusted very well to town life. He first began spending winter months at his Meadow View Homes in Bassett and then full time when he was unable to drive. Mickey enjoyed going to Leon’s Hardware to visit and getting dinner from the Pizza Place every day and his pancake and two eggs every evening for supper. He had many people help him out so he could live alone until failing health required full time care at Rock County Hospital and Long Term Care.
Mickey had many fond memories of going to Lincoln, NE and later to Davey, NE to spend time with his sister Shirley and her family. Mickey also loved to travel and took in many historical sites. He had fun hunting and fishing and always enjoyed the fall when the Noble Swanson family would come hunt at the ranch. Mickey spent many hours watching TV. He loved old westerns, Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer, The Sacketts, Christmas In The Smokies, Leave It To Beaver and Husker Volleyball! He spent his evenings on the phone talking to friends and family. Mickey enjoyed collecting small scale cars and international tractors and other memorabilia. He liked driving his four-wheeler, mowing his yard and in later years, rides in his Ranger. Mickey was always up for a card game or a cribbage game along with reminiscing with laughter and joking.
Mickey was a member of St Peter Lutheran Church.
Mickey passed to his eternal life on April 10, 2023 at the Rock County Hospital Long Term Care. Mickey was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Bessie Lanz; sister, Shirley (Lanz) Kruse; brother-in-law, LeeRoy Kruse and great nephew Keaton Stuhr. He is survived by nephew, Mark Kruse of Lincoln, niece, Michele and Bart Patterson of Davey, great-niece, Lindsey and Mitch Stuhr, Adisynne and Makenah all of Lincoln and great-niece, Lainie Leaf, Landon and Brody also of Lincoln, along with many cousins and friends.

Funeral Services were held on Thursday, April 13, 2023 at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Bassett. Vicar Nancy Moore officiated at the service. Musical selections included “The Old Country Church” by Hank Williams, Sr., “Go Rest High on That Mountain” by Vince Gill, and “Mansion Over the Hilltop” by Elvis Presley. Casketbearers were: Allen Sybrant, Kyle Sybrant, Jim Sybrant, Dale Sybrant, Jeff Sybrant, Kent Smith and Dave Sybrant. Honorary Casketbearers included Lana Arrowsmith, Stan and Deb Weidner, The Steve Wiiest Family, Brad and Cindy Kroll, and All of the Other Friends at the End of the Phone Line. Memorials were suggested to the Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Foundation or the donor’s choice in Mickey’s name. Internment was in the Bassett Memorial Park Cemetery at Bassett under the direction of the Hoch Funeral Home of Bassett. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.hochfuneralhome.com .