John A Lenz

John A. Lenz, age 91, Watertown, formerly of Henry, died in the Jenkins Living Center at Watertown on Thursday, December 18, 2014. Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, May 23, 2015 at 11:30AM in the St. Martin's Lutheran Church - WELS in Watertown with The Reverend Paul Janke officiating. Following a dinner at the Church, burial will take place in the Lorinda Cemetery at Henry. There will be no visitation. He was born John Arthur Lenz on September 6, 1923 at Henry, the son of Rudolph F. and Anna (Lange) Lenz. John attended school at Henry and graduated from Henry High School in 1941. John has been a part of the farm his entire life up until retirement not so long ago. John lived and farmed the family farm near Henry and after his father's death he and his mother remained on the farm. The farm was the "gathering place" for "huge" family dinners and holidays. It was a cherished time for all of the family. Many of John's nephews and nieces spent weeks of the summer at the farm, even after Grandma (Anna) died. He was always "the favorite uncle" of his nieces and nephews and always made time for them. John also enjoyed the young school boys who helped him on the farm. On December 27th of 1967 he was united in marriage to Dorothy Christiansen at the farm. They continue farming and enjoyed many neighbors and friends coming to play cards, visit, and have lunch. Family holidays were very special times. Dorothy died on November 20, 1983. A large tornado demolished the farm on May 12, 1984, taking most all of the buildings. John rebuilt a new home and several other buildings on the farm site. On February 14, 1987 he married Louise Bender at Watertown. They continued living on the farm and planted many shelter belts, large gardens over the years and countless flower beds. The couple spent many winters in the south, most recently in Quartzsite, AZ. A few years ago they sold the farm and moved into Clark and then recently into Watertown. John became a resident of the Jenkins Living Center in September of 2013. He was a lifelong member of the St. Paul's Lutheran Church (WELS) in Henry and recently transferred their membership to St. Martin's Lutheran Church (WELS) in Watertown. Preceding him in death were his parents, first wife, Dorothy, and siblings, Rudy, Carl, Ernest and Robert Lenz, Ruth Becker, Ella Eggert and Esther (Claassen) Brown. Survivors include his wife Louise of Watertown, step-daughter, LaVonne Peterson of Henry, step-son, Alan (Kristine) Rennie of Henry, step-daughter, Rita (Jim) Gengler of Worthington, MN, step-son, Dennis Barkley of North Platte, NE and a step-daughter, Roma Rawlins of Clark. He also leaves a sister-in-law, Marjorie Lenz of Marshall, MN, many nieces, nephews and a host of friends. The Furness Funeral Home of Clark is serving the family where there is an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com