Donald Marvin Lenef

Donald Marvin Lenef, age 89, beloved husband, father, and stepfather, was called to his eternal resting place on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. He is survived by his loving wife, Joy Ibsen; his first wife, Caroline Schwarz Siegel; sons from his first marriage, David (Gigi) and Alan (Lori) Lenef; stepdaughter, Thea Martin; and stepsons, Mitchell (Susan) and Noah Martin (Christine Arylo). He is survived by his grandchildren: Nikia Lenef, Julia Lenef, and Jacob Lenef; his step-grandchildren: Soren and Alec Martin. He is also survived by his nephew, Mark Kushnir. He is predeceased by his mother and father, Dora, and Louis Lenef; his sister, Arlene and brother-in-law, Bob Kushnir, and nephew, Stephen Kushnir.

Don was born on May 9, 1933, in Colorado Springs, CO. His father Louis emigrated from the Poland/Russia area; his mother Dora was first-generation from parents who emigrated from Latvia. His older sister, Arlene, was a talented musician and singer. Don’s childhood revolved around the family scrap metal and junkyard business which helped support the neighboring Fort Carson during WWII. It was during this time that Don developed his lifelong passion for building and flying model airplanes. As the junkyard morphed into auto parts and salvage, Don developed his love of cars as well. Don’s love of music began when he was given a trombone on his 10th birthday.

Don attended the University of Colorado, Boulder, receiving a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. In college, he met his first wife Caroline, and they married in August 1953. Following service in the Army reserves, as an officer at Ft. Belvoir, VA, they moved to Connecticut where Don worked for Pratt and Whitney Aircraft. Drawn back to the family scrap and auto salvage business, they returned to Colorado Springs. In the mid-60s, the family moved back to Connecticut, where Don again worked for Pratt and Whitney as a jet engine test engineer. Following the economic downturn in the aviation industry in the early 70s, Don continued working as a mechanical engineer in Michigan and then Illinois in various manufacturing-related companies. Being of a strong independent spirit, Don pursued other career aspirations in value engineering in the early 80s, when he did postgraduate work at Buffalo State College in Creative Studies. He consulted with many companies, bringing co-workers together to find creative and more cost-effective solutions to manufacturing and design problems. He had a strong passion for this work, which often bucked the rigid corporate “sensibilities” of the time.

It was also during this time that he met his second wife, Joy, in Oak Park, IL, where he lived at the time, and with whom he would spend the rest of his life. While living in Evanston, Illinois, Joy and he brought together the two families with love and kindness. Upon Joy’s retirement, they moved to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in 2000 to Trout Creek in Ontonagon County. In 2013, they moved to Silver City on Lake Superior, living in a real log cabin. Here, Don pursued his final career in computer repair, refurbishing, and training. In 2018, Don and Joy moved to Albuquerque, NM, where Don lived before his passing.

Don was a devoted, loving, and patient family man. While normally soft-spoken and a great listener, he enjoyed giving advice to his family, much of it very wise, often, “telling it like it is.” He would speak his mind, when necessary, often with a snarky, but playful sense of humor. He was famous for his bear hugs.

A man of many interests and hobbies, he built and designed numerous model airplanes, starting a model airplane club in his younger days. He was also an avid cook, especially breakfast and grilling, often inventing strange but wonderful new pancakes. Don was very active in local sports car events, including the Pike’s Peak Hill Climb in Colorado, in which several famous professional drivers raced. Never one to “just buy a car” like everyone else, he would often bring a “new” car home with some unpronounceable name and happily spend the day in the garage fixing it up. He loved music, playing trombone, baritone, and even tuba in many concerts, Klezmer, and oom-pah bands throughout his life. This love of music inspired much of his family and extended family.

Raised in a conservative Jewish family, he was very involved in the synagogue earlier in his adult life, conducting the choir at B’nai Israel in Aurora, Illinois. Don’s spiritual and philosophical side was apparent throughout his life, embracing his wife Joy’s strong Danish-Lutheran roots. Always grounded and practical, he influenced both his extended family and friends with his thoughtful and comforting approach to life.

We will miss him greatly.

May his memory be a blessing, “Yehi zichra baruch”