DIED Mrs. Teresa Lenz mother of Mrs. Wm Bofenkamp of Ellsworth and for many years a highly respected citizen of Adrian, died quite suddenly at 5 30 last Sunday morning at her home. Her immediate death was due to a stroke of paralysis. For several months however, she had been in very poor health and death was not wholly unexpected. She was about 85 years of age. Funeral services were held at 9 o'clock Wednesday forenoon a solemn High Mass being celebrated at St Adrian s church by the Rev Fathers Raymond Krebsbach of Adrian, Herman Boecker of Altura, MN and J M Kiely of Ellsworth. Interment was in St Adrian s cemetery beside her husband.
Theresa Luke was born in Prussia November 25 1840 and came to America with her parents in 1854 settling near Burlington Wisconsin. In 1847 she married Peter Lenz and lived near Brighton Wisconsin until they came to Minnesota in 1884. She was a devoted mother a devout Catholic and a charitable woman. One son died in infancy and a daughter Rose, died at the age of 18. Her husband preceded her in death twenty one years ago.
Ten children mourn the passing of a devoted mother. They are Mrs. Paul Cook, Adrian, Mrs. Casper Kramer Adrian, Mrs. Joe Dries Ashton IA, Mrs. Wm Bofenkamp, Ellsworth, Mrs. Barbara Seitz, Mrs. Nic Siegfried and Matt and Miss Regina all of Adrian Also Ferdinand, Lismore and Thomas Lenz of the community northeast of Ellsworth. Besides her children she leaves 39 grandchildren and 43 great grandchildren.
Out of town people in attendance at the funeral included Mr. and Mrs. Jos. Dries and family Mrs. L Dries Anton Dries, Mrs. and Mrs. J Honkomp, Mrs. L Hoffman, Mrs. M Spartz, Mr. and Mrs. Leo Stollman and family and Frank Dries all of Ashton Iowa. Also Mrs. J Luke, Joe Luke Mrs. Rose Pierson all of Graettinger Iowa, Mr. and Mrs. Ferdinand Lenz, Mr. and Mrs. J Kaely, Mr. and Mrs. Peterburs, Mr. and Mrs. G Farmer, all of Lismore MN., Mr. and Mrs. M Melcher and Mrs. Val Dries Woodstock MN. From Ellsworth came Mr. and Mrs. Wm Bofenkamp, Ray Bofenkamp and family Mr. and Mrs. Frank Seitz and Family, Mr. and Mrs. Wm Vogelsberg and Henry Borget.
Ellsworth News

Using the date of death and the inscribed age at death as "aged 84 years 11 mo 25 days" her birth date would be Oct 2, 1840. In her obit/funeral article it says her birth date is Nov 25, 1940.

SPECIAL NOTE: The Ellsworth Centennial of 1894-1984, there is a mistake on page 447 which shows the family photo of Peter Lenz & Theresa Luke- but lists them to be Ferdinand and Theresa (Luke) Sietz, parents of John Seitz. Further verification of this mistake can be found in The Lenz Story which verifies the gentleman with Theresa (Luke) is indeed her husband Peter Lenz, not Ferdinand Seitz and the photo has been documented as such in many other family records: Cook/Koch's, Lenz's, and Kramer's.