Stephen Lensing

Monday, May 21, 2018 11:39 am

Stephen Lensing, 89, of Calmar, died Saturday, May 19, 2018, at the Ossian Senior Hospice in Ossian. Mass of Christian Burial is at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, May 24, at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Calmar, with Rev. Robert Gross officiating. Lector is Brent Lechtenberg. Mass servers are Jacob and Elizabeth Bohr. Eucharistic ministers are Tammy Schmitt and Irene Novak and Laura Lechtenberg, and Marge Lechtenberg and Lois Poshusta. Offertory gift bearers are Michala and Morgan Lensing and Lisa Tupy. Organist is Jeanette Dietzenbach. Cantor is Dan Silhacek. The St. Aloysius Choir will sing. Hymns are “Ave Maria,” “Amazing Grace,” “We are Many Parts,” “We Remember,” “Goin Home” and “How Great Thou Art.” Casket bearers are Andy Hackman, Joe Eichenberger, Matt Tupy, Nathan Lensing, Neil Hackman, Rocky Lensing. Military rites at cemetery will be by U.S. Army and Halverson-Giesen American Legion Post 266, Calmar. Interment is at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, Calmar. Arrangements are being handled by Schluter – Balik Funeral Home, French Chapel, Calmar.

Stephen Aloysius Lensing was born Nov. 3, 1928, the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Schmitt) Lensing in the family home a mile north of Festina. He was the sixth of 10 children. He attended Festina School and graduated from Calmar High School in 1946. Stephen met his wife of 64 years at a dance at the Lawler Ballroom in Lawler. Stephen enlisted in the Army and after basic training, he attended eight weeks of leadership school and then volunteered for Airborne training at Fort Benning in Georgia. He was then sent to Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, N.C. and was a proud member of the Special Forces in the 82nd Airborne Division of the Army. He served as an airborne paratrooper and completed 14 jumps. Not even a month after his return (Oct. 6, 1953), he married his love, Arlene Bruess, at St. Luke Catholic Church in St. Lucas. To this union 10 children were born. Stephen worked at Helwig Electric/Radio in Decorah for a few years before being a longtime farmer northeast of Calmar. Stephen enjoyed fishing, hunting, playing cards, marbles, telling stories, traveling, Fox News and especially spending time with his grandchildren.

Stephen is survived by his wife, Arlene; 10 children: Mary Lou (Mel) Hackman, Fort Atkinson; Deb (Tom) Eichenberger, Calmar; Laura (Leon) Lechtenberg, Calmar; Joan (Bob) Tupy, Calmar; Rod (Michelle) Lensing, Calmar; Donna (Rick) Hackman, Fort Atkinson; Sam (Judy Yeggy) Lensing, Solan; Sue (Gary) Teslow, Decorah; Rick (Pamela Engels) Lensing, Charles City; and Art (Dawn Andera) Lensing, Calmar; grandchildren: Brian (Tiffany), Andy (Trista) Hackman; Adam (Carrie), Thomas “Joe” Eichenberger, Sara (Corey) Claeys; Terri (Eric) Argotsinger, Brent (Katie) Lechtenberg, Matt (Michelle), Nicole and Lisa Tupy; Mitchell, Mark, Michala, Keith, Garrett, Nathan and Morgan Lensing; Jill (Brady) White, Luke (Brandi),Neil Hackman; Leia, Maddi and Rocky Lensing; Wade (Jennifer), Ryan (Katie) Teslow; Cody (Alisha), Casy, and Samantha Lensing; Zachary Lensing; Jacob and Elizabeth Bohr; great-grandchildren: Hayden, Grayson, Morgan, Austin, Kendall, Chesney, Autumn, Charity, Talia, Vivian, Menae, Maddox, Mckoda, Maysa, Myles, Hadley, Nora, Hazel, Logan, Tierani, Brynley, Ryker, Landon, Lennox, Conner, Mason, Ryan, Maya; sisters, Bea Timp, Ossian; Mary Mulligan, Humboldt; brother, Bruno Lensing, Mesa, Ariz.; sisters-in-law: Marian (Norbert) Retterath, Calmar; Esther Lensing, Calmar; and LaVerne Bruess, Cresco; brothers-in-law, Clarence (Mary Lou) Bruess, Monroe, Wis. and Harlan Mikota, New Hampton; along with many nieces and nephews.

Stephen was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Elizabeth (Schmitt) Lensing; grandson, Scott Lechtenberg; brothers: Daniel (Dorothy) Lensing, Gordian (Valeria) Lensing, Roman Lensing, Roche Lensing; sisters, Myra Lensing and Verda Mikota; father and mother-in-law, John and Caroline (Bodensteiner) Bruess; brothers and sisters-in-law: Lucille Bruess, Lucille (Gus) Lechtenberg, Alice (Alphonse) Bullerman, Art (Irene) Bruess, Cornell Bruess, Donald (Evelyn) Bruess, Jim (Betty) Bruess, Wilma (Stanley) Franzen and John Bruess.