John Francis Lenz was born in Nobles County, Ellsworth, Minnesota, May 12, 1927, to Charles John and Elizabeth (Wagner) Lenz. He was the sixth of seven children. Records date back to the early 18th Century in Alendorf, Germany to the Lenz family. John graduated from St. Mary High School, Ellsworth, Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa, and was granted the Master of Arts Degree from the University of Nebraska in 1957. In 1949, he came to teach at Corning High School, Latin and English. Until five years ago, John was also Speech and Drama teacher, directing hundreds of students in speech contests and play productions including "My Fair Lady," "The Diary of Anne Frank," "The Crucible" and many others. He presently teaches English, Media and is the Annual Sponsor. On December 30, 1950, John and Mary Margaret Mack were married in Corning at St. Patrick's. He served two years in the Army during the Korean Conflict, part of that time in Japan. John was one of the founders of the Icarian Players, a local Drama group and has been their director for many musical and drama productions. John and Mary were on the Centurama Board, and directed the pageant in 1957. John has been instrumental in arranging for professional music and drama performances in Corning-Omaha Symphonia, Guthrie Theater, Old Creamery Players, Drake University Theater, etc.
  Mary was born in Corning on November 19, 1924, to Lewis and Isabel (Curry) Mack. She graduated from Corning High, Ottumwa Heights in 1944, and the University of Nebraska in 1970. She is Jr.-Sr. High School librarian at Corning.
  John is a KC member, worked with the Iowa Arts Council, and received Corning's Governor's Award for Iowa Community Betterment in 1978. Both Mary and John are active members of St. Patrick's, being teachers, choir members, lectors, EM's. Mary was choir director for many years, is treasurer of Rosary Hospital Board of Directors, past president of St. Patrick Altar Society. They collect and restore antiques and own Lenz Repair and Refinish which they operate during the summer at their home Northwest of Corning.
  They have two children born at Rosary Hospital, Corning. Mary Bernadette, born November 20, 1952, graduated from Corning High and the University of Iowa. She is a graphic artist who married Dr. Christopher Lynch from Bogota, New Jersey, on June 13, 1982, in Corning. Chris is at present a pediatrician with the Army in Germany. Their son, Joseph Francis Lynch, was born November 1, 1983. Charles John Lenz, born November 28, 1954, graduated from Corning High, attended the University of Iowa and graduated from SWCC in Electronic Technology. He is a communications specialist, is single, and works in Des Moines. Both children received state contest honors in Speech, Drams, Vocal and Instrumental Music, and joined their mother as members of the National Honor Society at Corning High School. Mary Lenz
(History of Adams County Iowa, 1984, pp. 360-361)