Earl "Dean" Lentz

Earl Dean Lentz (1931-2024) Earl "Dean" Lentz was born on July 7, 1931 in Lineville, Iowa. This was the beginning of a life of service to his family, country, and God. Dean remained faithful to this service until he returned home to his Heavenly Father on June 30, 2024 at the age of 92. Dean left school in the eighth grade so that he could work for local farmers to help support his family. He also worked at his father's blacksmith shop and helped take care of his bothers and sisters. Around the time he left school, he gave his life to Christ and was baptized in the Weldon River near the family home in Lineville, Iowa. Dean continued to work and support his family near Lineville until he was drafted into the Army during the Korean War in 1952. Before leaving for Korea, Dean attended Medical Field Service School at Fort Sam in Houston, Texas where he was trained as a Medical Aidman. Once in Korea, Dean served with the 19th Infantry Regiment Medical Company, 24th Division where he helped defend the port city of Pusan. Dean served in active combat for 10 months and 12 days. During this time he was sustained by his belief in Christ and by regular letters from a woma...[more]

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e had never met, but who would eventually become his wife. Upon being honorably discharged on Jan 6, 1954 at Camp Carson, Colorado, Dean returned to Iowa and met the woman with whom he had exchanged so many letters while in Korea. The letters started when Dean's sister Lue told a co-worker, Lois Walker, about Dean and showed her a picture of him. Lois asked if she could write to him and the rest, as they say, is history. Dean and Lois were married on January 31, 1955 and loved, honored, and cherished each other for the next 69 years. Dean and Lois made their home in Jefferson, Iowa and raised two children, Jeff and Linda. Dean worked as an auto mechanic and then at the Jefferson Transmission Plant, from which he retired as a Quality Assurance Analyst. After retirement, Dean stayed active by working at Springer's Car Wash, fishing, spending time with his Grandkids and Great-Grandkids, and fixing anything and everything that was broken. Dean was very active right up to his last couple of years, so a lot of stuff got fixed. One of the highlights of Dean's retirement was going to Washington DC on an Honor Flight in 2014. Dean was so moved by the experience, that he helped raise money for the Brushy Creek Honor Flights so that others could have the same experience. Dean would want it noted that he was thankful for all of his fellow Veterans in Greene County. He enjoyed visiting with them at VFW Post 9599. Greene County Veterans Affairs Director Mike Bierl and American Legion Adjutant Barb Labate were especially supportive to him in his later years. As we say goodbye to our hero and patriarch Earl "Dean" Lentz, we are thankful for his life and legacy that has taught us so much. He loved and served his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, his country, his family and friends, and anyone in need. Dean is survived by his wife Lois (Walker) Lentz; daughter Linda (David) Hocke; Grandson Jake (Sarah) Lentz and their children Justin and Brianna; Grandson Adam (Coleen) Lentz and their children Aubrey, Logan, and Magnus; siblings Donnie Lentz (Virginia) and Mary Kitto; sister-in-law Dolores Walker; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. Dean was preceded in death by his father, Jacob Arthur Lentz; mother Velta Alma (Nickell) Roberts; siblings Morris, Carl, Merlin, Leota Merkel, Lueretta Sullivan, and Violet (Susie) Bennett; and son Jeffery Lentz.