Carl D. Lenz age 97, of Wisconsin Dells, WI, passed into eternity on Friday, February 9, 2024, at Riverwood Senior Living, where he resided with his wife of 70 years, Vera.

A private memorial service will be held later in the spring. His ashes will be interred in a family plot at Town of Maine Cemetery in Park Ridge, IL.

He was born in Chicago on November 8, 1926, to Carl D. Lenz Sr., and Lillian Borgerson Lenz. Affectionately known as Chuck to family, Carl was an only child. His very early years were spent in an upstairs apartment above his Norwegian maternal grandparent's home on Lawler Avenue in Chicago. The family moved to Garden Street in Park Ridge, which was very rural, yet the large family relatives were in close proximity. His father worked as a decorator for L.S. Ayres department stores. Growing up, Carl enjoyed summers fishing at Delavan Lake and time with family in Salem, Wisconsin.

Carl attended Portage Park school and graduated from Maine Township High School (now Maine East) in 1944. He then enrolled at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. In December of 1945 he took leave of his studies and enlisted in the United States Army in the Air Force Division. He returned to Northwestern and graduated in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.

Upon graduation, he was hired by American Nickeloid company based out of Peru, Illinois. He was responsible for sales territories all across the Midwest. Carl made American Nickeloid his entire career until his retirement in the early 1990s. He had advanced to become District Sales Manager of the Chicago office and later Regional Sales Manager based out of the Schaumburg, Illinois Office.

Carl married Vera Brasch on December 26, 1953, at Howes Chapel on the Northwestern University campus in Evanston, Illinois. He had many passions including a zest for life which included his love and genuine compassion for people. He was a natural salesman. He loved golf, fishing, skiing, bowling, boating and his Chicago Cubs.

He also had a passion for the Lord and the Christian fellowship amidst the churches they belonged to over the years. Carl served on various committees at Northwest Covenant Community Church in Mt. Prospect, Illinois. They also served as leaders of small groups and committees at Willow Creek Community Church in Barrington, Illinois until they moved to Door County, Wisconsin in 2005 where they worshiped at First Baptist Church of Sister Bay.

In retirement, Carl and Vera split time between their northwest Chicago suburban homes and their homes in Ephraim and Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin. In their lifetime, Carl and Vera enjoyed travel to Colorado, Arizona, Amelia Island, Alaska, Utah, Germany, the European Alps, Gulf Shores, and California. In all of Carl's travels, he always found a golf course nearby. The Peninsula State Park Golf Course, however, was his favorite place to be. With its spectacular views of Eagle Harbor and the Village of Ephraim, the Peninsula Golf Course was where Carl found complete joy.

In 2015, they purchased a home in Kansas City, Missouri to be with family, and traveled to Door County for a few brief warm days on the Door Peninsula in the summers.  In 2021, they moved back to Wisconsin and made their home at Riverwood Senior Living in Wisconsin Dells.

Carl always strove to have an "Attitude of Gratitude," in work, in life and with all people. His love of life and joy of the Lord was evident in all that he said and did.

Carl is survived by his  beloved wife of 70 years Vera Brasch Lenz; much loved father of three daughters: Lezlie (Dennis) of Lake Forest, IL, Caryl (John) of Kansas City, Mo, and Jody (George) of Wisconsin Dells, WI; eight grandchildren: LeAnn (Ben), Erin (Jonathon), Hannah (Patrick), Brendan (Amanda), Elizabeth, David (Chloe), Rachel, and Noah; and his eight great-grandchildren: Aidan, Ezra, Eloise, Aubrey, Kingston, Perry, Boaz and Silas.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Riverwood Senior Living and St. Croix Hospice for their loving care of Carl.

Memorials can be made to the Peninsula Golf Association to fund junior golf development (PO Box 275, Fish Creek, WI, 54212); Samaritan's Purse ( https://www.samaritanspurse.org ); Or The Ridges Sanctuary https://www.ridgessanctuary.org/ .