Lenz, Donald Dean 'Curly'

Donald Dean “Curly” Lenz, 82, of Solon, died Friday, Nov. 9, 2012. Funeral Mass will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, at St. Mary's Catholic Church with Fr. Jim Vrba celebrating. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, where full military rites will be conducted by the Solon American Legion. Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Brosh Chapel in Solon, where there will be a 7 p.m. vigil.

Donald was born Oct. 29, 1930, in Iowa City, the son of Donald T. and Una (Walsh) Lenz. Dean served in the United States Army during the Korean conflict. He married Mary C. Eckrich on June 14, 1955, in Cosgrove. Dean and Mary farmed in the Solon area all of their lives. He operated a fuel tank service for Farm Service for over 34 years.

Dean was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Solon American Legion, Eagles, Johnson County Farm Bureau, Johnson County and Iowa Cattleman Association, and the Black Angus Breed Association.

Dean and Mary enjoyed dancing, playing cards, raising cattle and hogs, and running the family farm together. He was very proud that he and his son Doug have farmed together on the Lenz Farm and Doug will continue the family legacy. He enjoyed being involved with his children and grandchildren showing cattle and hogs at the Johnson County 4-H Fair. He will be greatly missed by all.

Dean is survived by his children, Pamela Lenz (Larry Raine) of Solon, Douglas (Denise) Lenz of Solon, Una (James) McKeever of Edmonton, Ky., and Rita (Jerry) Dhondt of Williamsburg; eight grandchildren, Mindy, Randi, Trent, Hunter, Blade, Jared, Mary and Angie; one great-granddaughter, Autumn; sisters, Joyce Thomas of Lafayette, Colo., and Deborah (Harry) Hicks of San Jose, Calif.; and a brother, William (Joyce) Lenz of St. Marys, Fla.; as well as his nieces and nephews.

Dean is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mary, who died on March 16, 1988; a son, Randy Lenz on Sept. 10, 1977; and his sisters, Shirley Brown and Linda Schoenfelder.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at .

Published Nov. 11, 2012 in The Gazette