Karen Marie Lentz

Karen Marie Lentz (nee Dzurnak) was a beloved wife, mother and grandmother. She loved going for walks, hiking, cycling, cross-country skiing, swimming, flower gardening, travelling and finding fun things to do with her children and grandchildren. She was an exceptional cook who liked to experiment with new recipes. She loved the ocean and the mountains.

Karen was born on June 26, 1956 at La Chappelle des Mesmin, Loire, France to John Joseph Dzurnak and Ella Elizabeth Kosa. As an Air Force Brat, she lived at March AFB, Riverside, CA; Anderson AB, Guam; Plattsburgh AFB, NY; Wakkani AS, Japan; Westover AFB, Chicopee, MA; and Clark AB, Philippines.

Karen started high school at Chicopee High in Massachusetts and received her high school diploma from Wagner High School at Clark AB, Philippines in June 1974. She was on the girls swim team at both schools. After her graduation, her father, who managed the Airman’s, NCO and Officer Clubs at Clark AB, hired her as a cashier at the Officer’s Club.

In late August 1974, Karen met Rick Lentz a handsome Air Force Captain from Travis AFB, CA. Rick was flying missions between Clark and Saigon, South Vietnam at that time. Whenever he was at Clark, they would go out to dinner or go dancing, reading poetry, and spend time discussing her dreams for the future.

Just after Valentine's Day in 1975, Rick arrived at Clark and asked her to go out to dinner and Karen agreed. Later that evening, Rick was pushing her on a swing when a “Voice” told him to ask for her hand in marriage. Rick’s first response was to tell the “Voice”, “Are you crazy! she’s 18 and I’m 28 there’s no way this would work.” A second time, though a little louder, “the Voice” gave him the same command; again, Rick resisted. For a third time, “the Voice”, very loud in his mind, said, “I told you, ask her to marry you!” At this point Rick realized it was God who was speaking to him. He stopped the swing walked in front of her, knelt and asked, “Karen, will you marry me?” With a shocked look on her face, she said, “Yes!”. They went to her parents, and John and Ella hugged Rick and Karen and gave their approval. Maybe they just wanted to get rid of her. Despite their ten-year age difference, they were married for more than 51 years.

After their wedding at Clark AB on May 10, 1975, Rick and Karen went home to Fairfield, CA. Subsequent Air Force assignments took them to Zaragoza AB, Spain (1976-79) where their daughter Rebecca was born on April 11, 1978. Little Rock AFB, AR (1979-83). While there, their daughter Kimberly was born on August 19, 1980, and their first son Ryan was born on July 31, 1982. Next stop was Aviano AB, Italy (1983-86); Clark AB, Philippines (1986-89) where their son Kevin was born of February 29,1988. Their final stop was San Vito AS, Italy (1989-93) where Rick was the Deputy Base Commander.

After Rick’s retirement in 1993, they landed in Colorado Springs, CO in January 1994. The past 32 years have been filled with fun and laughter, sadness, pain and tears. Karen battled through breast cancer from December 1996 – August 1997. Then the death of their son Kevin in June 2004. Though these events caused struggles in her marriage to Rick, their faith in God and love for each other pulled them through the tough times.

In July 2025, Karen was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Through eight hospitalizations due to infections in her biliary tubes, six months of chemotherapy, and the hope of Whipple surgery, which wasn’t completed due to the spread of cancer to her liver, Karen fought valiantly and courageously. In August 2026, exhausted by all that had occurred, she decided against any further treatment and to let things take their course. Her battle ended at 12:45 a.m. on Saturday, October 3, 2026.

Karen is preceded in death by her brother Philip (1958), her son Kevin Michael (2004), her mother Ella Elizabeth Kosa (2008), and her father John Joseph Dzurnak (2015). She is survived by her husband Rick Lentz, daughters Rebecca Anne Lentz and Kimberly Marie O’Connor, her son Ryan Andrew Lentz (Jennifer), her brothers David Dzurnak (Arlene) and John M. Dzurnak (Jenny), and seven granddaughters, Ella Elizabeth O’Connor, Paige Marie O’Connor, Everly Clare O’Connor, Kora Josephin O’Connor, Clara Ola Lentz, Mina Rose Lentz, and Kirsi Rue Lentz.

In lieu of flowers or other gifts, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to the St. Gabriel Classical Academy (SGCA) Fund in Memory of Karen Lentz. Go to www.saintgabriel.net click on GIVE, then GIVE ONLINE. On the next page click FUND and scroll down to Donation to SGCA in memory of Karen Lentz