John O. Lenz

Dateline-Wauzeka Veteran John O. Lenz, Jr., age 94 of Wauzeka, passed away on Friday November 3, 2023, where he wanted to be, next to his beloved river, at his home in Wauzeka, surrounded by his family. He was born June 22, 1929 in Wauzeka. The son of John and Alice (Johnson) Lenz. He married Olga Freymiller on July 12, 1953. Following Olga's death, he then married Mary Horton on November 26, 1983 in Wauzeka. John was an Army veteran, serving as a Military Policeman and stationed in Alaska during the Korean Conflict. After completing his service, he returned to Wauzeka and was a deputy for the Crawford County Sheriff's Department before beginning his over 30-year career as a rural mail carrier for Wauzeka and the surrounding area. He loved his job, other than when that "white s---" (as he referred to it) showed up and made his 95 mile daily mail route, through the ridges surrounding Wauzeka, treacherous to navigate. During his mail carrier career, he was also very active in his union and, among other titles, was at one time the President of the Wisconsin Rural Letter Carriers Association, as well as its State Steward for many years. After retiring in 1986, John and Mary split their time between Wisconsin, Michigan (Mary's home state) and Florida. John was always an active outdoorsman and spent his days hunting, fishing and making sure he had the best looking yard no matter which residence he was at! His passion though, was running his bank lines in the spring time, first with his own dad, then with his sons and finally with his brother, Bob. John and Bob loved to chase the elusive 100 pound catfish every spring and then come back to the cabin for a "toddy" afterwards to strategize about where to look for it next. They never found it on this earth, but we're pretty sure they've already found each other in heaven and have the line set in the next deep hole by the river bank in the sky. John is survived by his wife, Mary Lenz of Wauzeka. His children; John E. Lenz of Wauzeka, Bruce (Jane) Lenz of Spring Green, Pamela (Roger) Stuckey of Steuben, Peggy (Charles) Forrest of Dodgeville, and Ethan (Jill) Lenz of Portage. Eleven Grandchildren, Twelve Great-Grandchildren. One Sister; Mary Alice (Frank) Maxwell of Milton. He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Olga; a grandson, Ian Lenz; along with three brothers, Robert, Frank, and Richard Lenz. Funeral Services will be held on Thursday November 9, 2023 at 12:00 P.M. at the Kendall Funeral Home in Boscobel. Pastor Mark Peters officiating. Burial in the Wauzeka Cemetery. Friends may call on Thursday November 9, 2023 from 9:00 A.M. until time of service at the Kendall Funeral Home in Boscobel. Military Services will be accorded by the Blake-Semrad American Legion Post #134 and the Gilbertson Pitzer, Radley, VFW Post #10393 both of Boscobel. Online condolences can be sent to www.kendallfuneralservice.com

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