Mass of Christian Burial celebrated in Festina

James A. “Jim” Lensing, 77, of Festina died Thursday, July 25, 2013, at Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated by Monsignor Cletus Hawes on Tuesday, July 30, at Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Festina.

Interment was in the church cemetery. Military rites were conducted by Halverson Giesen American Legion Post 266 of Calmar.

Casket bearers were Dr. Dale Lensing, Roger Hageman, Richard Kipp, Allan Franzen, Neil Hageman, Travis Frana, Shane Baumler, and Marcus Baumler.

Arrangements were handled by Schluter-Balik Funeral Home in Calmar.

  James Aloysius Lensing was born May 6, 1936, in Festina to Hugo and Mathilda (Schrandt) Lensing.  

He attended St. Mary’s Catholic School in Festina. 

Jim entered the U.S. Army and proudly served his country in the Korean Conflict from Aug. 25, 1953, to Aug. 4, 1956.  

After he returned home from the service, he worked at Nehi Bottling in Decorah.  

On April 22, 1961, Jim was united in marriage with Alice Hageman at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in Decorah. 

On Jan. 31, 1962, he started his 

career at Deco Products in Decorah. He worked there for 48½ years, retiring as a die cast scheduling manager on June 30, 2010.  While he worked at Deco, he also farmed and milked cows until 1997. 

Jim enjoyed going for rides with Alice, reading books, looking up information on his computer, keeping up with current events, watching sporting events and All-Star wrestling.  Most of all, Jim loved his wife and family. He also dearly loved his grandchildren and attending all their activities.  He enjoyed going for walks, being outdoors, and visiting with family and friends.

Jim was a member of Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church and Halverson Giesen American Legion Post 266.    Preceding him in death were his parents; a sister, Marie Strub; a brother, Gabriel Lensing; his parents-in-law: Edmund and Mary (Jacobs) Hageman; two brothers-in-law; and three sisters-in-law.

James is survived by his wife, Alice F. Lensing of Fort Atkinson; two daughters, Cindy (Martin) Hageman of Fort Atkinson and Karleen (Mark) Baumler of West Union; three grandchildren, Breanna and James Baumler and Josseline Alice Hageman; two stepgrandchildren, Shane and Marcus Baumler; two brothers, Vince (Ruth) Lensing of Decorah and Stanley (Marlys) Lensing of Knoxville; three sisters, Loretta Russell of North Pole, Alaska, Lillian Gerdes of Tucson, Ariz., and Judy Mae Lensing of Des Moines; a brother-in-law; and two sisters-in-law.