Terry M. Lenninger

Terry Michael Lenninger, 77, a resident of Davenport, died Friday, December 8, 2023 at Senior Star Memory Care following a courageous 15 year battle with Parkinson’s Disease.

Funeral services to celebrate Terry’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 13, 2023 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 3834 Rockingham Road, Davenport.  Burial will be in Davenport Memorial Park.  Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 4 until 7 p.m. at the Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport.  Memorials may be made to Davis Phinney Foundation which helps people live well with Parkinson’s.

Terry Michael Lenninger was born on July 24, 1946 in Davenport, a son of Richard and Emily (Havel) Lenninger.  He graduated from Pleasant Valley High School in 1963 and enjoyed a brief stay in Iowa City where he majored in partying!  Terry or Mike as he was known to his family was encouraged to come home and join the workforce!

Terry was united in marriage to Marcia K. Sothmann on February 10, 1968 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Davenport. They have enjoyed over 55 years of marriage and adventures together.   

Terry worked at Montgomery Elevator building escalators before buying Marcia’s family service station “Sothmann’s Texaco” at Clark and Telegraph which they owned from 1972 until 1980.  Terry then bought Babe’s Radiator Shop in 1980 and owned and operated it until his retirement in 2006.  In retirement he stayed busy mowing at Crow Valley Golf Club and was a doorman/greeter at the Adler Theater in downtown Davenport.

Terry served in the Army Reserves and was a member of the Walcott American Legion as well as the Masonic Fraternal Order 110.

Terry had an adventurous and mischievous spirit!  He loved the outdoors, which was evident in many ways. He would have a fire going in his fire pit most nights, and enjoyed snow skiing, golfing, bicycling, running (doing over 25 Bix 7’s and 3 marathons), and even went through a sky diving phase making 14 jumps after the age of 50!  He was the grill master and kept his yard immaculate and enjoyed a good card game.  Marcia and Terry’s love of travel took them to Spain, Africa, Hawaii, the Bahamas, Tahiti, and to Costa Rica 9 times.  In Tahiti, he waded with eels and swam with stingrays. He was always up for an adventure.  Terry could also fix anything and was always willing help whether you were a friend, customer, or a stranger. He was known to enjoy a glass of wine or a martini and will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Marica, Davenport; children: T.J. (Karen) Lenninger, Colona, Illinois and Catherine Lenninger, Davenport; siblings: Nancy (Richard) Shaffer, Bettendorf, Robin Lenninger, Davenport; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Donna (David) Swift, Milan, Carol Freeland, Sunnyvale, California, Connie (Tim) Scott, Dana (Manuel) Franco, all of Davenport, Harvey (Maggie) Sothmann, Cordova, Illinois, and Bob Kaniasty, and Christine Lenninger, Davenport and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded by parents, and siblings, Dennis Lenninger, Sharon Lenninger, and Debbie Lenninger Larson and sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Carla Kaniasty, Carlis (Earl) Miller, Don Stoffers, and Tom Freeland

The Lenninger family would like to thank the loving staff of Senior Star Memory Care for the wonderful and compassionate care Terry received.