Oda Lensing

Tuesday, January 23, 2018 6:23 pm

Oda Lensing, 96, of Decorah, died Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018, at Wellington Place in Decorah. Mass of Christian Burial was at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24, at Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Festina, with Rev. Robert Gross officiating. Organist was Jeanette Dietzenbach. Soloist was Dan Silhacek. Our Lady of Seven Dolors Choir also sang at the Mass. Hymns were “Here I am, Lord,” “Ave Maria,” “Lord You Have Come,” “Goin Home” and “Amazing Grace.” Lector was Jerome Lensing, Jr. Offertory gift bearers were Oda’s daughters.
Casket bearers were Oda’s grandchildren. Interment was at Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Cemetery in Festina. Arrangements were handled by Schluter – Balik Funeral Home, Decorah.

Oda Theresa (Holthaus) Lensing was born March 14, 1921, on the family farm near Festina, to Joe and Anna (Schmitt) Holthaus. She attended St. Mary’s School in Festina. Oda married Jerome Lensing Sept. 24, 1940, at Our Lady of Seven Dolors in Festina. Together they had 13 children. Oda was a patient and kind woman, liked to golf and enjoyed bird watching, doing puzzles, hiking, traveling to Arizona, visiting with friends and especially enjoyed raising her family.

Oda’s survivors include eight sons: Terry (Shirley) Lensing, Madison, Wis.; Donnie (Mary Lou) Lensing, Decorah; Carol (Judy) Lensing, Decorah; Marcellus “Buzz” (Peggy) Lensing, Decorah; Jerome (Marilyn) Lensing, Jr., Davenport; Gerard “Tubby” (Christi) Lensing, Tucson, Ariz.; Bill Lensing, Tucson, Ariz.; and Chuck (Peggy) Lensing, Decorah; two daughters, Mary Ann (Terry) Wenthold, Festina and Annie (Bob) Price, Tucson, Ariz.; one daughter-in-law, Doris Lensing, Festina; 32 grandchildren: Jeff (Cathy) Lensing, Chris (Tammy) Lensing, Cory Lensing and Andy (Kristi) Lensing; Faith (Jim) Gribben, Hope (Shawn) Breitsprecher, Martin (Lisa) Lensing, Charity (Jeff) Kuboushek and Peter (Shannon) Lensing; Elizabeth (Jeremia) Goldberger & Amy Lensing Tate; Jennifer (Charles) Jenkins, Holly (Jeremy) Olsgard and Ben (Holly) Lensing; Eric (Amy) Lensing and Jason (Cheri) Lensing; Patrick (Stephanie) Lensing and Mindy (Bill) Lensing; Nathan Lensing; Katie (Oscar) Garcia; Joel Wenthold, Ryan (Amy) Wenthold, Jacob Wenthold; Terra (Tim) Kuennen; Nicole, Danielle and Tanner Lensing; Tasha (Chad) Geyer and Benea Price; Brelynn and Bryce Lensing; 50 great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; three sisters: Esther Timp; Decorah; Alice Scheidel, Decorah; and Delores (John) Meyer, Calmar; sister-in-law, Sandy Holthaus, Calmar.

Oda was preceded in death by her husband, Jerome, in 2006; daughter, Susan Lensing in 1970; sons, Robert “Petey” Lensing in 2004 and Dean Lensing in 2015; great-grandson, Nathan Ray Lensing; parents, Joe and Anna (Schmitt) Holthaus.