The Rev. W.H. Tensmeyer

The Rev. W.H. Tensmeyer was accepted into eternal life by his Savior, Jesus Christ, on March 20, 2008.

He was born Jan. 15, 1912 in Huey, Ill., to Herman and Louise Tensmeyer. Raised on a farm near Marshalltown, Iowa, he attended Concordia Theological Seminary in Springfield, Mo., graduating in 1942.

He married to Ruby Stahnke and, following graduation, he served Lutheran congregations in Elkader, Iowa, Burlington Iowa, Banning Calif., West Covina, Calif., and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

Following retirement he served as a supply pastor at various Lutheran congregations in North Idaho and eastern Washington. He was on organizational committees that established Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Rathdrum, Idaho and Christ Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Sandpoint, Idaho.

He was a member of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Coeur d'Alene.

He was preceded in death by Ruby, his wife of 59 years, and sisters Elsie Freiberg and Caroline Anderson.

The Rev. Tensmeyer is survived by his sister Gladys Miller of Wyoming; sons Joseph (wife Judith) of Wenatchee, Wash., and Greg (wife Carolyn) of Coeur d'Alene; daughter Linnea Lee (husband, John) of Pinehurst; grandchildren Randy Hill (wife Lisa) of Kellogg, Idaho, Peter Tensmeyer (wife Anna) of Fairfax Va., and Anna Tensmeyer of Coeur d'Alene; great-grandchildren Brooke and Rachel Hill of Kellogg, and Connor Tensmeyer of Fairfax, Va.

Services will be held 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 6, at Christ The King Lutheran Church, Coeur d'Alene.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Kootenai Health Foundation (2003 Lincoln Way, CDA, ID 83814) or the Lutheran Church Extension Fund (PO Box 229009, St. Louis, MO 63122).