- Born on: May 24, 1924
- Departed on: September 8, 2022
- Resided in: Garnavillo, IA
John C. Lenth
Our father, John C. Lenth, died on September 8th, at the Guttenberg Care Center. He went home to join his Lord and Savior, and his spouse Emilie, whom he dearly loved and missed since her death 3 months ago. Although we grieve his loss, we rejoice with him in the heavenly reunions he’s blessed by since his death. We noted with some interest that he died at the age of 98 on 9/8, and on the same day as Queen Elizabeth!
John Carl Lenth was born on May 24th, 1924 on the family farm in Farmersburg Township 10 miles north of Garnavillo. He was baptized on June 15th by Rev. C. Meyn and went to Sunday School at the Lutheran Church in National which was a part of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Garnavillo. He attended a country school (Pioneer) one mile south of their farm through 4th grade. Because the family farm was lost during the Great Depression, his family had to move in 1934 to the Koehn farm a few miles east of Garnavillo. He and his father rented and farmed there until January of 1953. John attended town school in Garnavillo for 5th & 6th grade, then another country school (Eagle) for 7th & 8th grade. His high school years at Garnavillo Community School began in 1938 until he graduated in 1942. John was confirmed at St. Peter’s on July 3rd, 1938 by the Rev. Herb Steege.
From an early age John enjoyed the farm life which was marked by his passion for working with his hands and driving all kinds of machinery and vehicles. Continuing to farm with his father, in 1944 they began hauling cream to the Garnavillo Creamery on a 1936 ¾ ton Chevy pickup. In the years 1947 – 1952 John did custom corn picking work, plus with his cousin Arnie Lenth custom bailing of hay and straw in the local area.
After their farm sale, John worked for two years with the State Highway Department on the road crew. He continued hauling cream and in 1955 purchased his first Can Milk truck. He hauled the first load of can milk to the Garnavillo Creamery on September 1st, 1955. In 1961 he began hauling bulk milk and did so until 1972 when he sold his route. John then began working as an Area Manager for Roverud Rock Construction Co. until retiring in 1989. Throughout the time of 1960 – 1996 he owned and operated many gravel and lime spreading trucks before selling this business in 1996.
John was united in marriage with Emilie Urlaub at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Garnavillo on August 27th, 1954. They built their home in 1956 in which they lived until May of this year. They were married for nearly 68 years. He felt incredibly blessed in terms of family, health, work, community, and travels he enjoyed for so many, many years. He was an active life-long member of St. Peter Lutheran Church, served for over 30 years on the Town Council (Mayor from 1973-1977) and on the Garnavillo Cemetery Association Board for 40 plus years. Into his early nineties he enjoyed removing snow at the Bank, the Post Office, St. Peter’s, and many homes with his Case Loader! He will also be remembered around town for all the daily walks he took until about the last three years of his life. He now has passed on the torch of being the oldest living male in town for the last five years!
John was preceded in death by his spouse, Emilie Urlaub Lenth, his parents, Elmer & Ella (Schwark) Lenth, and many other relatives. He is survived by his sister Betty Radloff, his children and spouses – Gary (Kim) Lenth; Dave Lenth & Sarah McGee; Julie (Lenth) and John Carver and their families which include seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. A Celebration of Life Service is being planned at St. Peter Lutheran Church on October 9th at 12:30 PM. Your sons and daughter and grandchildren just wish to say to you Dad/Grandpa: “Well, Well done good and faithful servant!”
John Carl Lenth was born on May 24th, 1924 on the family farm in Farmersburg Township 10 miles north of Garnavillo. He was baptized on June 15th by Rev. C. Meyn and went to Sunday School at the Lutheran Church in National which was a part of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Garnavillo. He attended a country school (Pioneer) one mile south of their farm through 4th grade. Because the family farm was lost during the Great Depression, his family had to move in 1934 to the Koehn farm a few miles east of Garnavillo. He and his father rented and farmed there until January of 1953. John attended town school in Garnavillo for 5th & 6th grade, then another country school (Eagle) for 7th & 8th grade. His high school years at Garnavillo Community School began in 1938 until he graduated in 1942. John was confirmed at St. Peter’s on July 3rd, 1938 by the Rev. Herb Steege.
From an early age John enjoyed the farm life which was marked by his passion for working with his hands and driving all kinds of machinery and vehicles. Continuing to farm with his father, in 1944 they began hauling cream to the Garnavillo Creamery on a 1936 ¾ ton Chevy pickup. In the years 1947 – 1952 John did custom corn picking work, plus with his cousin Arnie Lenth custom bailing of hay and straw in the local area.
After their farm sale, John worked for two years with the State Highway Department on the road crew. He continued hauling cream and in 1955 purchased his first Can Milk truck. He hauled the first load of can milk to the Garnavillo Creamery on September 1st, 1955. In 1961 he began hauling bulk milk and did so until 1972 when he sold his route. John then began working as an Area Manager for Roverud Rock Construction Co. until retiring in 1989. Throughout the time of 1960 – 1996 he owned and operated many gravel and lime spreading trucks before selling this business in 1996.
John was united in marriage with Emilie Urlaub at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Garnavillo on August 27th, 1954. They built their home in 1956 in which they lived until May of this year. They were married for nearly 68 years. He felt incredibly blessed in terms of family, health, work, community, and travels he enjoyed for so many, many years. He was an active life-long member of St. Peter Lutheran Church, served for over 30 years on the Town Council (Mayor from 1973-1977) and on the Garnavillo Cemetery Association Board for 40 plus years. Into his early nineties he enjoyed removing snow at the Bank, the Post Office, St. Peter’s, and many homes with his Case Loader! He will also be remembered around town for all the daily walks he took until about the last three years of his life. He now has passed on the torch of being the oldest living male in town for the last five years!
John was preceded in death by his spouse, Emilie Urlaub Lenth, his parents, Elmer & Ella (Schwark) Lenth, and many other relatives. He is survived by his sister Betty Radloff, his children and spouses – Gary (Kim) Lenth; Dave Lenth & Sarah McGee; Julie (Lenth) and John Carver and their families which include seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. A Celebration of Life Service is being planned at St. Peter Lutheran Church on October 9th at 12:30 PM. Your sons and daughter and grandchildren just wish to say to you Dad/Grandpa: “Well, Well done good and faithful servant!”
