Obituary of Lenore Elaine Semmler

Lenore Elaine Semmler was born to Walter and Grace Bensburg in Flushing, Queens, New York on January 26, 1941.  The Bensburgs lived with Grace’s mother and Lenore was surrounded by aunts, uncles and cousins until they relocated to Arizona after the war.  They were greeted in Arizona by Aunt Melva and Uncle Ed Darnell.  Father Walter did every job he could get, whether picking cotton or sweeping the theater, until he got his parts delivery job at Litchfield Park Naval Air Facility.  Mother Grace would be a housekeeper at the Wigwam, worked at the Exchange at Luke AFB, and worked as a clerk at King’s dry goods store.  Lenore went to Tollison grade school then to Agua Fria high school.  The Bensburgs attended church at Christ the King Lutheran Church which father Walter help build.  It was there that Lenore met Ken Semmler, a handsome sailor and lifetime love.  Ken and Lenore married in that church on June 7, 1959.  Soon he swept her away from Avondale, AZ, to the world of his 20-year Navy career.  Upon retirement, Ken moved his small family to Pierce, ID, in 1975, where they made a life for nearly 20 years.  In 1994, Ken and Lenore moved to Pebble Creek in Goodyear, AZ, where they lived for 23 years.  Since then they moved to Colorado where they have been for the past six years.  Lenore had an outgoing personality and an infectious laugh.  One evening after enjoying a comedy show in Las Vegas, the comedian asked her to attend the show the next evening, as everyone had such a great time laughing with her.  A devoted follower of Jesus, Lenore often ministered to hurting people with a prayer and word of encouragement.  She had a lifelong love of music and her strong tenor voice contributed to choirs at her church and in the community.  Lenore is survived by her husband of 64 years, Ken, her daughter Kristen (Guy) Pacot, son Mark (Kim) Semmler and sisters Claudia (Chuck) Miles and Susan (Tom) Kent.  Lenore will be interred at Ft. Logan National Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in memory of Lenore to King of Kings Lutheran Church, 8300 Pomona Dr. Arvada CO 80005.