Howard Ardwin Lensing

Monday, December 23, 2019 4:31 pm

Howard Ardwin Lensing, 60, of Spillville, went to be with the Lord Dec. 19, 2019, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, after a 15-year battle with cancer and 30 years with Type 1 Diabetes. He truly defied the odds and predictions of doctors, and he did it in typical Howard fashion – working his butt off, covered in dirt, scars on his head from tussles with farm equipment and always concerned about family, friends’ and customers’ needs more than his own. Celebration of Howard’s life is from 2 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019 at the Inwood Ballroom, 2763 Co. Rd. B16 Spillville. At 5 p.m., there will be a short service at The Inwood. Dan Silhacek will begin by singing “How Great Thou Art,” followed by DJ Scholtes saying a welcome/prayer, followed by a message from Howard and then finishing with Dan Silhacek singing “Amazing Grace.”
Howard wanted no flowers/gifts, donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 262 Danny Thom-as Pl, Memphis, TN 38105 or go to www.stjude.org and make a donation in Howard’s name.

Howard was born April 14, 1959, the son of Roche and Marian (Reicks) Lensing, weighing in at a whopping 12 lbs. 2 oz. He grew up on the family farm two miles east of Spillville, the fourth of 12 children. Howard attended St. Wenceslaus Catholic School in Spillville. He worked on the family farm as well as a hired man for several local farmers. He also worked for Clair Moellers building bins and selling/repairing tires. He graduated from South Winneshiek High School, Calmar, in 1977. He completed the two-year farm implement mechanic program at Area One Vocational Technical School, Calmar, in 1979. He worked as a tractor mechanic at Berg International, Decorah. In February 1980, he went into business for himself as Lensing Skelly on Main St., Spillville. His business involved tire work, repairing vehicles and tractors as well as selling gasoline. In 1990, he expanded his business by purchasing the Swehla Oil property on the east edge of Spillville where he built Howard’s Tire & Repair. He hired additional employees to work in the shop and his sister, Tammy as office manager. Howard worked very hard for nearly forty years providing great service for many customers in the shop and on the farm.

He married Renee Wagner at St. Wenceslaus Church, Spillville, Aug. 5, 1989. They had a son, Roman. Howard and Roman shared a special relationship through the many years of working together at the shop. They spent the last couple years preparing the “Happy Hills” property east of Spillville for Howard to reside on. While he never did get to build the “shouse” that he wanted, he was very proud of the expanded pond and gravity fed fountains which all garnered a strong curiosity from locals and usually involved him pulling their leg in his response to their many questions.

Howard enjoyed various hobbies over the years, including softball, basketball, volleyball, bowling, classic cars and riding motorcycles. He was a Ford lover, a huge fan of the Dallas Cowboys, Iowa Hawkeyes, Iowa State Cyclones, UNI and was an enthusiastic supporter of South Winneshiek and Turkey Valley athletics. He was a member of St. Wenceslaus Church, the Holy Name Society and the Spillville area Jaycees. Golfing was his favorite pastime. He was a member at Jackson Heights Golf Course for many years. He enjoyed golfing so much that after his cancer diagnosis in 2004, he went on annual February golf trips to warmer states with a group of brothers, brothers-in-law and friends.

Howard held family and friends above all else. He is survived by his son, Roman, Spillville; his mother, Marian Lensing Retterath, and stepfather, Norbert Retterath, Calmar; seven brothers: Marvin (LaDeane Bouska), Cresco; Joe, Spillville; Ivan (Jackie Glass), Fort Atkinson; Russell, Calmar; Ernie (Sherri Hageman), Calmar; Eugene (Julie Schulz), Blue Grass; Andy (Jill Wemark), Ridgeway; four sisters: Wanda Cole, Spillville; Irene (Dave) Novak, St. Charles, Minn.; Wanita (Bruce) Phillips, Calmar; Tammy (Darrell) Schmitt, Spillville; special friend, Ruth Moellers Skrukrud, Fort Atkinson; along with 34 nieces and nephews and 22 great nieces and nephews.

Howard was preceded in death by his father, Roche, in 1981.