Skip was born Nov. 19, 1951, in Ashland, to Garit and Harriet Tenpas. He graduated from Ondossagon High School in 1969. Following high school, he attended the University of Wisconsin Superior and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. On July 22, 1972, he married his high school sweetheart, Alexis Evelyn Nelson. Shortly after graduation from college, he and Lexie joined the Peace Corps and served two years in Sierra Leone, West Africa.
Obituary for Sierra Leone RPCV Howard 'Skip' Roy Tenpas
Howard 'Skip' Roy Tenpas
December 24, 2010
Howard "Skip" Roy Tenpas, 59, died at North Memorial Hospice in Brooklyn Center, Minn., on Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2010. The cause of death was acute myeloid leukemia.
Skip was born Nov. 19, 1951, in Ashland, to Garit and Harriet Tenpas. He graduated from Ondossagon High School in 1969. Following high school, he attended the University of Wisconsin Superior and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. On July 22, 1972, he married his high school sweetheart, Alexis Evelyn Nelson. Shortly after graduation from college, he and Lexie joined the Peace Corps and served two years in Sierra Leone, West Africa.
Skip resided in Superior before settling in Plainfield, where he raised his family, worked and ultimately became the owner of Central Sands Buildings and two local NAPA Stores. In 2000, the family moved from Plainfield to Rome, Wis., to fulfill a lifelong dream of owning a lake home.
Skip will be especially remembered for his love of water skiing, his honesty in business, his love for his family, and his love for his Lord and Savior.
Survivors include his wife of 38 years, Alexis Tenpas; his mother, Harriet Tenpas of Washburn; sisters, Paula (Joe) Johnson, of Manitowoc, Tammie (Michael) Baker of Keller, Texas, and Margie (Russell) Hintze of Menasha; and daughters, Penny (Jim) Hillier, Heidi (Jeremy) Johnston, and Brooke (Jeff) Nigl; and two grandchildren, Lizzie and Alex Hillier. He is further survived by his uncles, Robert Johnson and Robert (Elaine) Kramer; aunts, Alice Johnson and Joyce Johnson; and many nieces, nephews and numerous friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Garit; grandparents, Minnie and Emil Johnson, William, Anna and Magda Tenpas; aunt, Delores Kramer; and uncles, Donald Johnson and Henry Johnson.
Wake will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 26, at the United Methodist Church of Plainfield, 308 North Main St., Plainfield, Wis. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, Dec. 27, at the United Methodist Church of Plainfield. Burial will be privately held in the spring. All are welcome at the wake, service and reception at the Tri-County Area School cafeteria immediately following funeral services.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting memorials be sent to: Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Directed to: Lakes Area Christian Fellowship, 316 W. Buehler Ave., Nekoosa, WI 54457; American Cancer Society Hope Lodge, 611 W. Doege St., Marshfield, WI 54449; United Methodist Church of Plainfield, 308 N. Main St., Plainfield, WI 54966-9502.
Thanks to the staff at North Memorial Hospice, Saint Joseph's Hospital - Marshfield, and to the many prayer warriors on Caring Bridge.
Leikness & Stahl Funeral Home of Plainfield is assisting the family with arrangements. www.plainfield
funeralhome.com
