Donald Lenk

Donald James Lenk, Sr. 84, of Staples, passed away August 5, 2016 at the St. Cloud Hospital.  

Services were held August 10 at Faith Lutheran Church in Staples. 

Interment with Military Honors was at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery near Camp Ripley.

Arrangements were with Brenny Funeral Home, Staples.

Don was born January 29, 1932, in Staples, to Vincent and Mary (Opat) Lenk. He attended country school and Staples High School.  In 1952, he married Clara Orr. He enlisted in the U.S. Army serving in the Korean War as a Sergeant and Guard on the DMZ. After his honorable discharge, Don returned to Minnesota, where he and Clara built a dairy farm in Moran Township.  They raised seven children there. Don served on the town board for many years. In 1975, Don sold the farm and purchased Wahoo Valley.  On February 14, 1988, he married Carol Denny Schmitz and they made their home in Staples. Don drove semi-trailer hauling loads across Minnesota, he and his wife Carol also managed apartment buildings in Shakopee and Wayzata. Don worked as a maintenance supervisor at the Mary Rondorf Home in Staples, for a local potato farm, at CLC in various positions and the ethanol plant in Staples. He enjoyed the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing; and spending time with his family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was a member of the Wadena VFW, the Lions Club and was an AA sponsor.  In 2011, he was part of the Freedom Flight to Washington D. C. 

He is survived by his wife; four daughters, Carol (Paul) Kert, Barbara (Joe) Hasselberg, Rosemary (Dave) Bruhn and Joanne (Mark) Forsberg; three sons, Donald, Jr. (Debbie), James (Cathy) and Daniel (Tammy); step-children, Ken Schmitz, Roger Schmitz, Craig (Lissa) Schmitz, Sarah (Chad) Mathias; 18 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; eight step-grandchildren; one sister, Mary Ann Trantina; three brothers, Lawrence (Dorene), Edward (Lynn) and Vincent (Mary) and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, John; one granddaughter, Jillian and seven brothers-in-law, Jim Trantina, Kevin Ryder, Lyle Denny, Melvin Denny, Donald Denny, Gordon Denny and Peter Denny.             

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