Lenz, William Gary

Other Events:

• Obituary: 7 Dec 2017; APC

Notes:

Obituary:
William (Bill) Cary Lenz left us unexpectedly on Monday, December 4, 2017 at the age of 60. He was living in Tustin, in his lifelong dream home on the lake.
Born on June 10, 1957 at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton, Wisconsin, Bill was raised in Little Chute by David and Janice Lenz with sister, Lois, brothers Robert (Bob), James, and Timothy (Timmer). He attended Elementary, Middle and High Schools in Little Chute. He was active in football, lots of drug-doing and trouble-making throughout his high school years. Incredibly, Bill came to faith in Jesus Christ at age 18, thanks to a Billy Graham TV broadcast he chanced upon watching at the Lenz family cottage. He was never the same again. Following high school, Bill enlisted in the United States Coast Guard where he served our country and began his study of the Scriptures. After his four years in the Coast Guard, he attended a Bible College at World Challenge in Tyler, Texas. Then he became a youth group leader at Evangel Church in Menasha while working at WEMI radio station. There he met the love of his life, Janet [Gregg] Lenz. They were married on February 27, 1981. Wasting no time, together they started Solid Rock Ministries, and a year later founded the present-day Christ The Rock Community Church. He tirelessly gave himself to this church for the past 35 years.
He is survived by his wife, Janet, three sons: Ben (Jessie); Nate (Jenny); and Seth (Kate); grandchildren Michiah, Hadessa, William, Everett, Ezekiel, Moses, Eva, Theodore, Jedidiah, Lucille, and Thaddeus. He is also survived by an incredible extended family who loved this man dearly, and were loved well by him. He leaves behind a church body and staff at Christ The Rock that will miss him beyond what words can express. He is preceded in death by his parents, David & Janice Lenz; brother, Joey Lenz (at birth); brother, Timmer Lenz; and a wealth of people who are forever in eternity with Jesus because of his life's work and calling.
Bill was an avid fisherman, hunter, devoted husband, proud father, an in-love opa (grandfather), and lover of nature. Most of all, he was a fisher of men. You'd be hard-pressed to spend more than a few hours with him without Bill pulling out his Bible to spend some time with his Lord & Savior. He was our family's living "Bible Concordance" before our smartphones offered such amenities. He served on the Executive Board of the National Association of Evangelicals for nine years. He also served on the board for World Relief for a number of years. His work reached to Romania, India, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Israel, Haiti, Algeria, and remote bush villages in Alaska. His reach was worldwide and eternal, following his motto "let eternity be stamped on my eyeballs" perfectly. He couldn't even officiate a wedding without sharing the Good News of Jesus. He had a passion and love for peoples' hearts--desiring to see them tap into their own stories to find healing and hope in Christ. This passion led to the establishment of Character Development, a study course that has grown to become a truly life-changing class.
Bill had an undeniable love for Jesus, and an unstoppable love for the world. Wherever he went, he shared from his heart the Hope of Christ. Even throughout these days of funeral preparation, his wife and sons encountered countless people who tearfully expressed how their own lives had been impacted by him, whether business people, clerks, funeral and cemetery personnel, bankers…and on and on.
Bill has never fallen victim to depression in the past, but has battled it with a vengeance for the last 3 months. He sought and accepted help, but unfortunately for all of us, it wasn't enough to give us more time with him here on earth. Our hope in Jesus Christ is the same today as it was before this nightmare began. Please, if you're struggling with depression, don't go at it alone. Seek help.
There will be a visitation from 1:00pm-5:00pm at Christ The Rock Church in Menasha on Sunday, December 10, 2017, immediately followed by a worship service celebrating Bill's life at 5:00pm. Military Honors will follow the service with the Neenah/Menasha Veterans Honor Guard assisting.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established with Christ The Rock Church.
Westgor Funeral Home 205 W. Doty Ave. Neenah 72-7151
Online condolences: www.westgorfuneralhomes.com
Published in Appleton Post-Crescent on Dec. 7, 2017

William married Gregg, Janet Lynn [Group Sheet]