Lowell John Lenz

Lowell John Lenz, age 87, of Alexandria, MN, died Friday, March 17, 2023, at Bethany on the Lake, Alexandria. 

Lowell was born March 8, 1936, to John and Inez (Stevenson) Lenz in Eagle Bend, MN, and was baptized into the United Methodist Church.  He was named for Lowell Jackson Thomas, an American newscaster, filmmaker, author, and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and a Peabody Award; a lot to live up to!  He grew up and attended school in Eagle Bend, graduating from Eagle Bend High School in 1954.  Lowell moved to Alexandria, MN, going into business with his father and brother. 

Lowell married Marlys (Huyink) and they had two sons, Brent and Brandon.  Married to Marian (Syvertson) for 47 years, they created a blended family with her daughters, Pamela and Cindy, and their three sons, Douglas, Scott, and David.  United in marriage to Rosalie Karsten in 2019, Lowell’s blended family grew with the addition of her sons, Jeff and Mark. 

Some of the companies Lowell brought to life with his flair for invention and entrepreneurial spirit were: John Lenz & Sons, which consisted of selling grain dryers, as well as the Ford and Allis Chalmers tractor and implement dealerships with his dad and brother; with DryMor grain dryers, he invented, patented, and manufactured the high energy efficient grain dryers in his factory in Alexandria; Geneva Manufacturing produced recycling and refuse containers at the Alexandria factory; with Nimrod Color Covers he made roll-up tonneau covers for truck beds; Handicapping Plus provided USGA golf handicap scores to players/leagues at golf courses in the 48 contiguous states and Hawaii; and U.S. Payroll Service, an outsource payroll accounting service for hundreds of companies in the upper Midwest.  Lowell was a skilled woodworker and this talent led to the creation of his final business building handcrafted wooden urns, bible boxes, etc., which he sold through his Etsy store. 

Lowell liked to keep busy and had many interests; a highlight being his fishing trips to Canada a couple of times each year.  He began a love of motorcycles many years ago with the purchase of his Harley Davidson touring bike.  More recently, he was enjoying the motorcycle he had custom built for him and Rosalie to ride together.  Year after year, Lowell spent time touring the country in his motorhome, visiting family and friends along the way.  The trip-of-a-lifetime was an Alaskan cruise, a gift from his parents for themselves, their three children and spouses. 

Lowell was an active guy!  Committed to his daily workouts, he would be up at the crack of dawn to go to the gym.  He liked to take day trips on his recumbent bicycle, his son, Brent, would often join him.  Lowell was a beekeeper and shared his honey with friends and family.  He had a lifelong love of inventing and constructing things; for the beauty of it, to solve a problem, as a gift, to sell, or simply for the fun of it! 

Lowell would welcome each day as an opportunity to engage with people, meeting up with friends for breakfast.  He had a standing invitation to his kids, and grandkids, to join him for breakfast on Saturdays.  Lowell’s faith community at Calvary Lutheran Church was so very important to him, especially the men’s bible study group.  He also utilized his woodworking skills to build items for the church whenever a need would arise. 

As a young man, Lowell earned his pilot's license and subsequently bought a plane that he loved to fly, taking his family or friends along for the ride.  His last project was building a remote-controlled model airplane fashioned on the plane he had owned. Lowell’s friend, Mike McCormick, completed the unfinished project in time for Lowell’s birthday this year. 

Grateful for having shared Lowell’s life are: his wife, Rosalie Karsten, and her two sons, Jeff Karsten and Mark Karsten; former spouse, Marlys Lenz, and their two sons, Brent Lenz and Brandon Lenz; sons, Douglas (Tammy) Lenz, and Scott (Cynthia) Lenz; daughters, Pamela Lundeen and Cindy Lenz; grandchildren, Leif Lundeen and Brittney Lundeen; Christopher Lenz; Amanda (Steve) Reishus, Adam Lenz, Ashley (Mike) Brimer, Ariel (Brian) Dobbelmann, Amber (Chris) Rud, Anthony (Megan) Lenz, Andrew Lenz, Avery Lenz, and Adeline Lenz; 17 great-grandchildren; brothers-in-law, Willis Johnson, Donald (Darlene) Syvertson, Robert Hedtke, and Myron (Linda) Hedtke; sisters-in-law, Jean Lenz, and Marjorie (Arthur) Brynteson; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. 

Preceding Lowell in death are: wife, Marian Lenz, and their infant son, David Lenz; his parents, John and Inez Lenz; brother, Gaylord Lenz; sister, Jeannine Johnson; sisters-in-law, Vivian Syvertson and Mona Hedtke; and brother-in-law, Milton Syvertson.