John Russell Lenzing

Sadly, John succumbed to bladder cancer on January 12, 2022. He was born at home in St. Louis, Missouri, the eldest of 5 children. He was the son of Kenneth and Eunice (née Smith) Lenzing, and grandson of Mabel Lawson. His eldest sister, Maxine (Mrs. Mark Lemon) and eldest brother, Leland Lenzing, predecease him. He is survived by his daughter, Helene Lenzing-Martin, her wife, Peggy Lenzing-Martin, two grandsons, Stefan and Aaron, and a great-granddaughter, Teagan, all of Kelowna, BC, his daughter Elizabeth Matthews, of Mesa, AZ, grandson 1st Lt. Jacob Matthews USAF, currently serving in Germany, his sister MaryAnne (Mrs. Edwin Ryan), of Camp Verde, AZ, his brother Kenneth Lenzing, of Chino Valley, AZ, 10 nieces and nephews, 24 grand nieces and nephews; and his former wife and close friend, Gratia, of Scottsdale, AZ.

John served in the Arizona National Guard in the early 1960s and joked about being a “weekend warrior.” His active-duty service was at Camp Gordon, Georgia. He was employed at Motorola Inc. for over 30 years and well respected in the semiconductor industry; John was one, if not the first of six silicon crystal growers in the United States, possibly the entire world, and was often contacted by foreign corporations to help resolve their problems. He received recognition from Motorola for two patents that they hold in his name.

John was a proud alumnus, and a strong supporter of his alma mater, Arizona State University. He worked a full-time job and carried a full academic schedule to earn his B.S. Degree in Chemistry with a Minor in German & Mathematics. He enjoyed amateur photography, loved travel, was a talented artist, and most of all loved spending time with both his daughters and grandson Jacob, all of whom he was infinitely proud. He will be greatly missed.

Visitation, chapel, and graveside services will be held on February 4th, 2022 at 11:00 a.m.

at Green Acres Cemetery, Scottsdale, AZ. There will also be virtual services available through the Green Acres website.

The family requests that you please consider donations to St. Mary’s Food Bank, WWF, or Tunnels to Towers in lieu of flowers.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.greenacresmortuary.net for the Lenzing family.