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Lewis Claus Lenz, 96, of Mesa, Ariz., died Feb. 6, 2024.
Graveside services will take place Saturday, March 30, at 1 p.m. at Buena Vista Memorial Park Cemetery in Storm Lake with full military rites by Alta VFW Post 6172. A Gathering of Friends will follow the service from 2-4 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Storm Lake. Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements.
Lew was born in Denison on May 21, 1927. He joined the Army after graduating high school, returning to Storm Lake in 1946 to begin farming and raising cattle. He married Cora Mae Lenz (Zoffka) on Sept. 5, 1948, in Storm Lake. While on the farm, Lew and Cora had two children, Donna Jean and Robert Lewis, and a dog named Brownie. Choosing a new direction for his family’s future beyond the farm, Lew joined the Bureau of Public Roads (BPR) trainee program in 1957, beginning his new path to being an engineer. The next five years involved many moves attending South Dakota State College during the school year, coupled with work assignments during the summer on a BPR project around the United States. During this period, James Alan was born in South Dakota.
Lew graduated from South Dakota State College in 1962, receiving his BS in engineering and beginning his career as a civil engineer with the BPR, now known as the Federal Highway Administration. Lew and the family settled in Denver, Colo., where they enjoyed all what Colorado has to offer in camping, fishing and boating. Following an advancement to the FHWA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., and Urban Area Engineer in Arizona, Lew took an assignment as Motorway Design Engineer in the Kuwait Division Office in Kuwait, an adventure both Lew and Cora loved.
Lew retired from FHWA after eight years in Kuwait, returning to Mesa, Ariz. They found an acre lot in a citrus grove and fulfilled his lifelong goal of building his own home where they lived for over 30 years. Lew built a greenhouse to develop his passion for growing and eating tomatoes, as well as a large shop to accommodate his woodworking projects. All who knew he and Cora knew they would always be welcomed into their home with a beverage in one hand and snacks in the other, waiting for their turn at the dart board, pool table or the buffet line!
Lew is survived by his wife of 75 years, Cora Mae; children: Donna Jean Jaeger, Robert Lewis Lenz (Sandy) and James Alan Lenz (Lydia); grandchildren: William John Jaeger IV (Noy), Melissa Mae (Will) Faust, Erin Melissa Kennedy, Jared Daniel Lenz, John Daniel Lenz, Christopher James Lenz and Brett William Lenz; great-grandchildren: Edgar John Faust, Martha Mae Faust, William John Jaeger V, Brenna Shea Kennedy and Liam Patrick Kennedy.
