Edward D. Lenze (1958-2019)

Edward Donald Lenze, age 60, entered the gates of heaven on January 6, 2019 in Kenosha,
Wisconsin, surrounded by family and friends. A visitation will take place at St. Paul Lutheran
Church in Stevens Point on Thursday, January 10, 2019 at 3:30 PM until the time of service at
4:30 PM.

Edward was born on July 12, 1958 in Fort Atkinson, WI, to his parents, Donald and Kathryn
Lenze. He was named after his grandfather, Edward Donald Lenze. The family moved to
Ashland for a few years, an area that later became a lifelong paradise for Ed to visit, before
moving to Stevens Point. He attended local schools and graduated from SPASH in 1976 where
he was a varsity wrestler. He attended UWSP for a time while working as night manager at
Burger Chef near campus. He married Jan Stowell on September 2, 1978 and they had three
daughters. They celebrated 25 years together prior to their divorce.

Ed and his dad would often spend Saturdays in the wintertime attending high school wrestling
tournaments well after he was out of high school. He also enjoyed spending time outdoors
hunting and fishing, camping, throwing horseshoes, playing Euchre with his parents, listening to
country music, and watching sports on TV, especially the Green Bay Packers. He loved to road
trip with the family for spring break, heading to all parts of the United States. His passion for
history, especially Civil War history, took the family to countless battlefields and historical
monuments. His collection of Coca-Cola items led them to museums in Kentucky and Atlanta
highlighting the famous soft drink. He worked in finance at Wisconsin Finance and Co-Ci Credit
Union and then changed careers when he became a journeyman plumber and worked for Roger
Kluck Trucking. He was proud of his daughters’ participation in athletics in school and found joy
in being a grandfather as well.

Ed is survived by his parents and his three daughters, Autumn Groshek (Keith), Amber Thiel
(Nate), and Alyssa Lenze (Ross Oestrich) who all live in the Stevens Point area. He is also
survived by his four grandchildren, Caly, Braun, Gavin and Kenlee; his four sisters, Debbie (Neil)
Miller of Stevens Point, Donna (Chuck) Szymanski of Wisconsin Rapids, Diane Schaefer of
Menomonee Falls, Erica (Mark) Koeppel of Belleville, his special friend, Chris of Kenosha, and his
ex-wife, Jan (Tom) Peronto of Wisconsin Rapids. He was preceded in death by a granddaughter,
Ryleigh.