Joseph Lynell "Joe" Lentz

Joseph Lynell “Joe” Lentz passed away peacefully on February 13, 2026, at the age of 67, surrounded by his family.

Joe was born in Pampa, Texas, on October 11, 1958. During a family reunion, his great aunt and uncle met Joe when he was nine months old. He was adopted a few months later, along with his brother, Dale. Lynell “Bud” and Reola “Kay” Lentz, and daughters, Vickie and Scheryl, welcomed the boys into their new family. Joe often spoke about how blessed he was to be in a family that chose him, and how lucky he was to be adopted with his brother and best friend. Throughout his childhood, their family moved from state to state with Bud’s promotions at the Kellogg’s Company. Eventually the family settled into Anoka, Minnesota.

From a young age, Joe had a natural athletic ability and a strong competitive spirit. He played hockey, baseball, football, and wrestled. During the years his family lived in California, he would surf daily. As a teenager, Joe developed a love for muscle cars. He fondly remembered drag racing in Anoka with Dale and down University Avenue, stories he would later retell with a grin. Joe would spend many summers visiting his uncles, aunts and cousins in South Dakota, and visiting his four half-siblings in Texas.

Joe joined the United States Marine Corps on his 17th birthday during his senior year of high school in 1975. While completing basic training, he also finished his high school education and earned his GED. During his service, he earned honors for his marksmanship and was honorably discharged in 1977.

In 1980, Joe married Connie Stellmach and they had two children: Stephen and Alicia Lentz. They shared many years of marriage and later divorced. Although circumstances changed, his role of father did not. Fatherhood was one of the greatest joys of his life. Joe was a fun-loving dad, coaching Steve’s baseball teams, singing songs, telling jokes and pulling pranks, creating imaginative projects, and taking his kids fishing whenever he could.

Joe took yearly trips to South Dakota to pheasant hunt with his son and father. The annual family cabin trip to Nisswa was especially meaningful to him, and he made sure the tradition continued every year, whether he was feeling well or not.

Throughout his life, Joe worked as a salesman, truck driver, city bus driver and a handyman. He was a skilled carpenter who could “fix just about anything.”

Becoming “Grandpa” was a role he cherished deeply. Joe was blessed with seven grandchildren and carried two angel grandchildren in his heart. Despite facing significant health challenges later in life, he made every effort to be present. He shared his love of the outdoors, sports, pranks, and jokes with his grandchildren. He taught them how to fish, coached them on baseball techniques, attended games, recitals, and concerts whenever he felt well enough, and loved gathering around card and board games. Family was always at the center of his world.

Joe will be remembered for his big personality, his storytelling, his generosity, and his ability to make others laugh. He never met a stranger and had a way of striking up a conversation with anyone. His charismatic charm and humor drew people in effortlessly. Joe had a rare gift, he made people feel welcome, valued, and seen.

His legacy lives on in his children, his grandchildren, and the many lives he touched with his humor, strength, and generosity.

Joe is survived by a son, Stephen (Morgan) Lentz and daughter, Alicia (Dan) Jorgensen and grandchildren; Harlan, Micah, Avery, Weston, Beckham, Kason and Jonah; and sister, Vickie (Rick) Lewis along with many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; Bud and Kay Lentz; brother, Dale Lentz; sister, Scheryl (Lentz) Baumhofer and beloved grandchildren; Jackson and Ella.

Joe’s Celebration of Life will be held on March 13, 2026, at Gearty Delmore Funeral Chapel at 15800 37th Ave North, Plymouth, MN 55446. Visitation begins at 9:30 AM and service is scheduled at 10:30 AM, with a luncheon to follow. Fort Snelling interment at 1:30 PM.

In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to the Wounded Warrior Project or the Rumriver Art Center in Anoka.